Ethics Guidance for Occupational Health Practice 9th Edition - Book - Page 66
The duty of candour: disclosure to the patient
3.126. In 2015, as a result of the findings of the inquiry into failures of care in the MidStaffordshire Hospital chaired by Robert Francis QC, the GMC and the NMC
made a joint statement that healthcare professionals must:
Tell the patient (or where appropriate the patient’s advocate, carer or family)
when something has gone wrong.
Apologise to the patient (or where appropriate the patient’s advocate, carer or
family).
Offer an appropriate remedy or support to put matters right (if possible).
Explain fully to the patient (or where appropriate the patient’s
advocate, carer or family) the short- and long-term effects of what has
happened 44.
3.127. Every healthcare professional must also be open and honest with their
colleagues, employers and relevant organisations and take part in reviews and
investigations when requested. They must support and encourage each other
to be open and honest and not stop someone from raising concerns. GMC
guidance notes that any public-interest disclosure must comply with relevant
law, be limited to the minimum necessary information, be shared securely, and
be communicated transparently so the individual knows that a disclosure has
been made and why. Equivalent principles are reflected in NMC and HCPC
standards on lawful, proportionate and accountable information sharing.
Special Contexts
Examinations conducted for licensing purposes
3.128. Occupational health professionals may be commissioned to undertake
examinations to assess fitness for a specific task or licence. It is important to be
familiar with the agreed processes for conducting these examinations, including
understanding whether there is a need to have access to the worker’s past
clinical records or health information. In most circumstances, a worker’s selfdeclaration is sufficient, as it is reasonable to rely on them to
provide accurate health information.
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