It was good to hear your positive results with DMSA. I was interested to read about them.

For anyone that might want to learn more about the issue of doctor/patient privilege and confidentiality, the guidelines are easily accessed via the internet (both US guidellines and British guidelines).

Those of you who might be interested for future reference and dealings with doctors/dentists, the theory behind the doctor/patient privilege and confidentiality, is, in part that: the privilege of the confidence belongs to the patient. That means that the patient is free to discuss his/her experiences without permission or approval from the doctor.

Because the privilege of confidentiality belongs to the patient, the doctor must get approval and permission from the patient to discuss any aspect of his/her case with another party.

To reiterate, the privilege of the confidence belongs to the Patient, not the Doctor.

This is true in the US and in ENgland.

If a doctor feels the need to defend himself because he does not agree with a particular version of events or the opinion of his patient, he still must get permission from his patient to discuss the case.

That's not saying that a doctor can't defend himself. As a poster mentioned above, the doctor in this case could have defended himself in this Forum by using a much broader approach and without discussing the patient's case. It would take creativity and some sophistication -- but it could have been done.

Ethics are just as important as skills in doctors. In fact, ethics play an enormous role in the profession as a whole. There are reasons for these guidelines and they should not be overlooked.

Tracy might not care that her confidences were breached. However, I still think what has occurred here could be a valuable lesson for everyone.

Ethical guidelines are boundaries. Boundaries are needed -- rather like fences are. If fences are removed and the boundaries become blurred or disappear, then we have nothing but a bunch of animals running wild, trampling over each other, causing untold damage.

Sorry for the lousy metaphor.