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Case Report Publication Ethics — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

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ModerateLegal & Ethical FrameworkCase Report Publication EthicsSCE Palliative Medicine

A palliative care team member publishes a case report about a patient who died recently. The case contains sufficient clinical detail that the patient might be identifiable from the report. Which statement correctly describes the legal and ethical frameworks governing publication of such case reports in the UK?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: D — Consent should ideally be obtained before the patient’s death; if not, consent must be obtained post‑mortem from the personal representative and identifiable details must be anonymised; the Human Tissue Act 2004 and GMC confidentiality guidance apply

Option D is correct because it integrates key UK legal and professional requirements: obtaining consent before death when possible, the need for post‑mortem consent from the personal representative under the Human Tissue Act 2004, and adherence to GMC confidentiality and anonymisation standards. Option B is incorrect because ethical responsibility lies with both author and institution, not solely the editor. Option E is unacceptably false as it negates recognized confidentiality and consent duties. Option A wrongly claims data protection laws are irrelevant post‑mortem, but common law confidentiality and anonymisation obligations persist. Option C is incorrect: deceased patients remain protected by confidentiality and ethical norms, so free publication of identifiable details would be a breach.

Reference: GMC: Confidentiality – good practice in handling patient information (2017); HTA Code A: Consent requirements under the Human Tissue Act 2004 (2025); NHS England ISB1523 Anonymisation Standard (2022)