Scenario

One of your colleagues has gone on holiday and his father, who has become ill,  has just been admitted in your hospital. Your colleague phones you from his holiday and asks if you can find out more about what is happening with his father.

 

Rank the following actions using 1 for the action that you would most likely take, etc down to 5 for the action that you are least likely to take:

A - You simply refuse to answer your colleague's questions.

B - You speak to your consultant, explain the situation and ask for the information that your

      colleague wants.

C - You politely tell your colleague that you cannot do what he is asking you to do because
       it is not Trust policy

D - You ask the father if he gives permission for you to ask the consultant about him.

E - You retrieve the father's notes and give the information to the colleague.

 

Answer

This question tests your integrity (e.g. you should not treat your colleague better than any other relative, you should respect confidentiality) and your communication skills. For ease of explanation we will list them in reverse order of effectiveness.

5 - E would effectively mean that you are breaching the confidentiality of the patient. At the same time you might infuriate the team that is looking after the patient. It is the worst action that you can take.

4 - A seems harsh. You may upset your colleague

3 - C would be slightly better. It would achieve the same result as A but in a nicer manner

2 - D is quite good because you are not breaching confidentiality. Indeed, you are asking permission from the father. But it may cause a small problem because (i) you are interfering with another team and (ii) if the father does not get on with his son then it may stress him out.

1 - B is the best option because you are involving the team who is looking after the patient and therefore you are not interfering. Also, by involving the consultant, you can discuss any confidentiality issue with him. In practice you may not need to go to someone as senior as a consultant, but this is the only option available and also the best.