Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Primary Care

Sickness certification system in the United Kingdom: qualitative study of views of general practitioners in Scotland

BMJ 2004; 328 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.37949.656389.EE (Published 09 January 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;328:88

Rapid Response:

Data Protection Act again?

I am interested in the doctor who leaves the diagnosis box blank.
Having landed the role of Caldicott gaurdian to various bodies I could
argue a good case for doing this all the time. Anyone else in agreement?
If the GP is held to be gate - keeper, and has signed for legal
responsibility, why should he share sensitive diagnostic information with
a group of junior civil servants and line managers?

Competing interests:
None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

11 January 2004
David J Young
GP Principal/PCare Tutor
Derby DE215DH