MMS: Proposed Federal Rule Change on Patient Consent
Weakens Privacy Rights
March 22, 2002
Contact: Frank
Fortin
ffortin@mms.org
781-434-7099
pager 877-820-9024
WALTHAM, Mass. -- The Massachusetts Medical Society today criticized
the federal government’s new proposal on patient consent,
asserting that the new rule would weaken the patient’s right to
privacy.
“The proposal to modify patient consent rules undermines a
bedrock of medical ethics,” said Francis X. Rockett, M.D.,
president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. “Patient consent
is fundamental to preserving privacy and confidentiality.”
He added, “We will continue to study the remainder of the
regulations and assess their impact when the details are released next
week.”
The Massachusetts Medical Society was one of the nation’s first
state medical societies to adopt a strong set of principles on patient
privacy and confidentiality. In November 1996, the MMS House of
Delegates asserted, “Privacy and confidentiality are privileges of
the patient, so only he or she may waive them, in a meaningful and
non-coerced fashion.” The full MMS policy on privacy and
confidentiality is available on the Society’s website at www.massmed.org/pages/privacy.asp
The Massachusetts Medical Society, with more than 17,000
physicians and student members, is dedicated to educating and advocating
for the physicians and patients of Massachusetts. Founded in 1781, the
MMS is the oldest continuously operating medical society in the country.
The Society owns and publishes The New England Journal of
Medicine, the Journal Watch family of professional
newsletters, and AIDS Clinical Care, and produces HealthNews,
a consumer health publication.
| patient privacy,advance consent,confidentiality,policy |
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