Boundary issues: employing patients as staff?

摘要

Mr and Mrs Smith had been registered with the practice for over 10 years. Mr Smith started working in the practice office approximately 4 years ago. Mrs Smith developed emotional problems and became depressed, which necessitated a referral to the local psychiatric team. It transpired that there were marital difficulties and Mrs Smith had an affair which her husband was unaware of. The thought of her husband having access to the clinical correspondence from the psychiatric team was of great concern to Mrs Smith and also her GP. Elaborate methods were put into place to avoid clinical correspondence passing through Mr Smith's hands.