BMA Response To Derrick Bird Report, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 03 Nov 2010 - 3:00 PDT window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId: 'aa16a4bf93f23f07eb33109d5f1134d3', status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true, channelUrl: 'http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/scripts/facebooklike.html'}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js'; document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e); }()); email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Commenting on the report from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) into the Derrick Bird killings, a BMA expert in this area, Dr John Canning, said:

"The BMA supports closer working and cooperation between the medical profession and the police. Under current legislation doctors already have a duty to breach confidentiality if they think a patient presents a risk of serious harm to themselves or others. This does not just relate to the ownership of firearms but when a doctor believes the patient or others may be at risk of serious harm more widely.

"Any new system would need to consider what role GPs could realistically play. It would be impossible for doctors to predict whether patients who own firearms could harm others in the future and it would be unreasonable to ask this of GPs.

"Doctors are committed to finding the best possible routes for protecting the public and individuals and the BMA is involved in ongoing discussions with ACPO about a way forward."

Source:
British Medical Association

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

All opinions are moderated before being added.

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

View the original article here