A 54-year-old woman with breast cancer asks you not to tell her adult son about her diagnosis. Later that day, her son phones the surgery asking for d...

Question

A 54-year-old woman with breast cancer asks you not to tell her adult son about her diagnosis. Later that day, her son phones the surgery asking for details of his mother''s condition, saying she is very secretive and he is worried. The patient has full capacity. What is the most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Give general reassurance but avoid revealing any specific clinical information

Answer

Disclose full details because close relatives are entitled to know serious diagnoses

Answer

Send the son a copy of the clinic letter as he is next of kin

Answer

Ask the son to put his request in writing and then disclose the information

Answer

Disclose the diagnosis only if he promises to keep it confidential

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Confidentiality – disclosure to relatives