Reporting animal harm to the RSPCA

The wife of a patient told the GP that her husband, who suffered from alcohol dependency, had viciously kicked their dog and cat when in a drunken rage. This was not the first time he had been cruel to their animals and, while her husband had never been violent to her, she was worried for their pets' safety.

The GP contacted the MDU to ask whether she should disclose this information to the RSPCA so the patient's animals could be removed. She was aware of her duty of confidentiality to the patient, but wondered whether she should disclose the information in the public interest.

MDU advice

The MDU adviser explained that the circumstances which can justify disclosing confidential information in the public interest are explained in the GMC's confidentiality guidance. It states 'disclosure without [patient] consent may be justified if failure to disclose may expose others to a risk of death or serious harm'.

In this case, the adviser suggested the GP consider asking the patient's wife to report the matter to the RSPCA, and if she was unwilling to do so, to consider seeking consent from the patient to involve the RSPCA, if this did not put the wife at risk of harm. If after careful reflection, the GP felt a disclosure without consent was justified in the public interest, then she was advised to disclose the minimum information necessary for the purpose, and to document her reasoning carefully.

Prescribing for animals

A consultant geriatrician contacted the MDU asking whether she could prescribe prednisolone for her sick dog. The vet had initiated the treatment, and the doctor had spoken to a local chemist to see if she could issue a private prescription to save time.

MDU advice

The MDU adviser sympathised with the geriatrician's situation, but explained that what she proposed was unlawful, and potentially a criminal offence. The practice of veterinary surgery is restricted to registered vets by section 19 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. This law allows animals to be treated by registered medical practitioners 'at the request of' a registered vet, but this exemption would usually apply if the vet needs a doctor's specialist expertise or skills, such as in the recent case of a baby gorilla born by caesarean section at Bristol Zoo.

The adviser also explained that if a doctor were prosecuted for this offence, then they would also be required to inform the GMC, which could put their registration at risk.

Pet problems

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Dr Beverley Ward

Pet problems