Public-interest disclosure
What it means
Confidentiality can be breached WITHOUT consent when the public interest in disclosure outweighs the patient's interest in privacy — typically to prevent SERIOUS HARM to the patient or others (e.g. risk of death/serious harm, serious crime). Disclose the minimum necessary, to the right person, and tell the patient where practicable. A judgement, justified case-by-case.
Worked example
A patient discloses an intent to seriously harm a named person — the doctor may breach confidentiality to warn the person/police, disclosing only what is necessary.
In the exam
A patient reveals a credible plan to seriously harm a specific named individual; the doctor weighs breaching confidentiality to prevent harm.
What settles it
Public-interest disclosure is DISCRETIONARY (you may) and proportionate; STATUTORY disclosure (notifiable disease, FGM in under-18s) is MANDATORY (you must).
Classically confused with
Statutory & mandatory disclosure
Source: GMC Confidentiality