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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Consent by Police Surgeons

Consent by Police Surgeons
A Summary
(Certain aspects of this chapter will be repeated later in this book for purposes of clarity and ease

of reference).
Police surgeons are called upon to examine individuals in various circumstances.
Though largely called upon by the Police Force to whom they are contracted, they may provide
services to various other agencies, eg
• Private individuals
• The Courts
• Social Services
Whatever the mechanism of the "call-out" and wherever the patient/client/prisoner is seen, the
obligations re consent and disclosure are the same.
Disclosure is dealt with under a separate heading but mention is made in this document (Chapter 4).
There are three "types of contract" that Police Surgeons may have with their patients.
1. Therapeutic
2. Forensic
3. Police Complaints Authority
Therapeutic
This is the usual contact and the standard doctor/patient relationship exists.
The doctor has a responsibility to treat to a standard which is acceptable by a large body of Police
Surgeons and the consent is normally that of the standard "GP" type contact. This usually means
that consent for the history and basic examination is virtually assumed, and written consent should
be unnecessary. It does behove the doctor to follow current attitudes with a high level of patient
involvement in the doctor/patient relationship.
A recent document produced jointly by the British Medical Association Ethics
Consent by Police Surgeons
A Summary
(Certain aspects of this chapter will be repeated later in this book for purposes of clarity and ease
of reference).
Police surgeons are called upon to examine individuals in various circumstances.
Though largely called upon by the Police Force to whom they are contracted, they may provide
services to various other agencies, eg
• Private individuals
• The Courts
• Social Services
Whatever the mechanism of the "call-out" and wherever the patient/client/prisoner is seen, the
obligations re consent and disclosure are the same.
Disclosure is dealt with under a separate heading but mention is made in this document (Chapter 4).
There are three "types of contract" that Police Surgeons may have with their patients.
1. Therapeutic
2. Forensic
3. Police Complaints Authority
Therapeutic
This is the usual contact and the standard doctor/patient relationship exists.
The doctor has a responsibility to treat to a standard which is acceptable by a large body of Police
Surgeons and the consent is normally that of the standard "GP" type contact. This usually means
that consent for the history and basic examination is virtually assumed, and written consent should
be unnecessary. It does behove the doctor to follow current attitudes with a high level of patient
involvement in the doctor/patient relationship.
A recent document produced jointly by the British Medical Association Ethics
patient and seek his/her approval. If the patient refuses to have the chaperone present then the doctor
must carefully consider the position before commencing with any examination. It is sometimes
possible to have the chaperone within sight but out of immediate earshot, and this can be acceptable
to the patient who has doubts about the advisability of a non-medical person being present,
particularly if that person is a police officer

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