A police officer asks you to confirm the identity of a patient receiving methadone and who was found with diazepam. What is the most appropriate action?

• A. Refuse to disclose information
• B. Provide the requested information to the police officer without seeking the patient’s consent
• C. Seek the patient’s consent first
• D. Contact the GP to verify

Answer: (B)

Respecting patient confidentiality is the guiding principle here. Sharing a patient’s identifying information from their treatment record with the police is not allowed without the patient’s explicit consent or a valid legal basis. The appropriate course is to seek the patient's consent before disclosing anything about their treatment or identity. If consent cannot be obtained, you must not disclose the information unless there is a lawful requirement such as a court order or other statutory authority. In practice, you would not confirm or share details with the police without consent, and you would direct them to pursue any required legal process.