Blogging Doctor Under Investigation

(Cairns, Australia) An Aussie doctor, Gavin Cleland, is being investigated by the Ethical Standards Unit of Queensland Health for disclosing patient information on his MySpace blog. The name of an 87-year-old patient and the details of his rectal exam and enema treatment were released to the public on Cleland's blog.

In Brisbane on Friday, Queensland Liberal leader Dr Bruce Flegg described the incident as "reprehensible."

"Clearly doctors ... have a duty to protect the confidentiality of their patients in all but extreme circumstances," Dr Flegg said.

"It's extremely unusual to divulge patient details, but to publish them on the internet where they could be available for any sort of misuse would be even rarer, and even more reprehensible."

Under the socialized medical care system in Australia, Cleland could be fined a few thousand dollars and called before the Medical Board.

I'm not a medical expert but I think the penalty in the U.S. for violating privacy of patients is civil fines and personal injury lawsuits along with loss of professional credentials, lengthy incarceration and possible lethal injection. I'm not sure but I know that they're real picky.