Doctor Outs Dead Patient As Gay And HIV+, Slammed For Breach Of Patient Privacy
Doctors are expected to uphold their patient’s medical privacy.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.
There has been massive outcry on Twitter after a Malaysian doctor outed a deceased patient as gay and HIV positive in a post.
The patient, who was unable to recover after contracting Covid-19, had confessed to the doctor and asked that the doctor keep his secret.
Instead, after he has passed away, she posted pictures of his X-Ray on Twitter with his full name in view.
This essentially outed the patient posthumously and is also a severe breach of the patient’s privacy and confidentiality.
The original post was up for hours, gaining much criticism from the public and medical personnel alike, including from the Malaysian AIDS Council.
The Malaysian AIDS Council together with @KKMPutrajaya stand firm on the policy of medical officers to protect patient’s privacy and confidentiality, especially when it comes to HIV – where the stigma is still very much out there.
— Malaysian AIDS Council (@myAIDScouncil) April 25, 2022
1/3 https://t.co/1LPgf6OVmW
The Malaysian AIDS Council notes that behaviour such as posting a patient’s private details online is considered a ‘clear misconduct’ among medical practitioners.
Additionally, they also warned that suitable action may be taken against such irresponsible actions.
However, at the time of writing, the original post and the doctor’s account has been deleted.
Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
