There’s so many things wrong with what Dr Bulpitt is saying here.  Is he speaking for the 300 members of the Association of Local Authority Medical Advisors (ALAMA) or is he using and abusing his position unilaterally?

Using an analogy of the Glasgow bus disaster is beyond the pale.  Bulpitt is invoking  a straw man  – an argument that is extreme and easy to argue against – but is intended to play to the sensitivities of the GMC.  There is already the scope in the GMC confidentially guidelines that permits non-consented disclosure in circumstances where failure to disclose may expose others to a risk of death or serious harm.

The response from the GMC is clear and unambiguous.  The guidance of the GMC is congruent with primary legislation.  A patient is entitled to withdraw consent for a report to be disclosed to a third party.

You can find the GMC confidentiality draft guidance here.

The 6 page letter and GMC response is below.  Select the arrows bottom left to scroll pages.