When friends ask about a celebrity patient: What should I say?

Situation

Recently a well-known reality TV celebrity was admitted to our ward. She has posted quite a lot about it on Instagram including photos of the ward, and a thank you to the team who looked after her. My friends know I work with that team, and they have all been asking me if I looked after her and why she was in hospital. What can I tell them? 

Regulatory guidance

The General Medical Council’s (GMC) guidance Confidentiality: Good practice in handling patient information highlights the importance of patient confidentiality. 

“Trust is an essential part of the relationship between patients and medical professionals and confidentiality is central to this. Patients may avoid seeking medical help, or may under-report symptoms, if they think their personal information will be disclosed without consent, or without the chance to have some control over the timing or amount of information shared.” 

MDDUS advice

Although the patient has shared information on social media about her hospital stay, including identifying her treating team, it does not set aside their duty of confidentiality to her. Those involved in her care should not disclose any information about her to family, friends or other colleagues who are curious to get further details. Doing so is a breach of the patient’s confidentiality which can result in complaints or disciplinary action.  

 
While not drawn from a real case, this hypothetical example represents a situation that could arise.