Boring stuff
My view
The views expressed in this blog represent my own opinions and not those of my employers or any of the organisations I have worked for as an independent practitioner.
Patient confidentiality
This is an area of concern for medical bloggers and an area of potential controversy in which I have no particular desire to push the boundaries. The moral and ethical arguments of free speech versus the patient’s right to confidentiality looks like a clash of prima facie ethical considerations. These are never usually pretty.
There is no doubt that patient contact can be a fundamental pillar of a clinician’s perspective and it is probable my blog reflects that. Equally, it should not belittle any other perspective. I read and enjoy a number of blogs that use patient contacts as a potent catalyst for discussion of medical issues. They can make a valuable contribution to the many and varied debates surrounding healthcare and they should be nurtured where possible. The authors reassure us that those blogs take specific measures to protect the identity of their patients.
I do not plan to blog about patients without obtaining their specific written consent. That will probably mean it will happen very rarely, if ever.
Conflicts of interest
I have no other conflicts of interest that I am currently aware of as potential issues. Specifically, I do not receive any revenue from this blog through advertising etc.
Inaccuracies
If you spot any factual errors then please let me know and I will be happy to correct them.
Finally,
I may work as a GP for part of my working week but it is very unlikely that I am your GP. And I don’t consult over t’internet. So please do not take any of the stuff here as medical advice that is specific to you without an appropriate consultation from an appropriately qualified and regulated bod.
Please feel free to ask your chosen medical practitioner any questions that I may raise. I’m sure they will be thrilled to answer them.
A Post-Script
The header picture is cropped from a larger photo of Lochnagar. I spent a lot of happy days climbing in this corrie when I was a student. It’s very north and it’s one of my favourite places.
The picture was taken by Bruce McAdam and can be found here. The file is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License.
If that really is a picture of you, then you are younger and prettier than me.
Bastard!
“Conflicts of interest
I have no other conflicts of interest that I am currently aware of as potential issues. Specifically, I do not receive any revenue from this blog through advertising etc.”
I’d never ever have thought of citing this potential COI declaration! Although I’d not suffer any advertising on my blog or generate any income, it does make sense to be explicit about it. I’m muchly impressed!
Hi
I am a GP in Rossendale…yes the Northwest. I wonder if you could help me and a group of GP’s who want to assess the appetite for change with regard to getting another organisation in to provide medical indemnity, with bonuses for not claiming after years of paying, reduced fees since income is going down etc. We have an online survey facility which I can email. Please help