Sign inWe can only speak to and give clinical information to the patient themselves. Where appropriate, and if consent has been granted from the patient, then we may discuss clinical information with whomever is granted permission by the patient.
Consent can either be hand written and signed by the patient and handed in to the surgery or done verbally if information is needed there and then e.g. over the phone. This can be anyone whom the patient wishes to deal with their medical record from a partner to a family member or carer.
Age of consent for children in Scotland
In Scotland all children over 12 years of age are deemed to have capacity to give consent to accessing their medical records, unless there is a medical reason they do not have capacity. By law they are entitled to make decisions as to who can access their records and what information is provided to them. We cannot discuss any clinical information with parents of children 12 years and over without their express consent. Whether this be verbally or written consent.
The ICO (Information Commissioners Office) provide some information:
“In Scotland children aged 12 or over are presumed to be of sufficient age and maturity to provide their own consent for data protection purposes, unless the contrary is shown.” Click here for more information one the ICO webpage
Further information can be found here
This is covered in the Data Protection Act 2018 .
“A person aged 12 or over is to be presumed to be of sufficient age and maturity to have such understanding, unless the contrary is shown.”
Thank you for your understanding
