Patient confidentiality

Syed Hamde Ali, The Nawab Palace, Bogra
One of the pillars of medical practice in the West is patient confidentiality. A medical practitioner does not disclose his patient's medical history or problems to anyone other than the next of kin, and that also with the consent of the patient. I am therefore astonished at the callous manner in which the medical problems of the high profile prisoners are being disclosed to the public. Prisoners also have the right to privacy. While the public has a right to know about many things, this right may not impinge upon the rights of others. Just general comments about the health conditions would be quite sufficient. I don't see why the public should be apprised about which patients are suffering with piles, much less the poor unfortunates who are struggling with fistulas and similar diseases. I am very surprised that a newspaper of your standing and reputation would print such information just because the D.I.G. (Prisons) made such disclosures.