Vol. 557 No. 6
59 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the submission made by the Adelaide Hospital Society to the Medical Council that doctors should have to tell patients when they have a financial interest in the treatment they are recommending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22900/02]
The current edition of the Medical Council's Ethical Guide, which was published in November 1998 and circulated widely, including to every registered medical practitioner, contains guidelines at paragraphs 11.1 and 14.1, on a practitioner's ethical responsibilities to patients where the practitioner has a financial interest in the pharmaceutical industry or a linked industry or in a private clinic, hospital or institution.
I understand from the Medical Council that it is undertaking a review of its Ethical Guide (5th Edition), and, as part of this, it invited submissions from a wide variety of bodies, including registered medical practitioners and the public. As the Deputy is aware, the Medical Council is the statutory authority charged with providing for the registration and control of persons engaged in the practice of medicine under the Medical Practitioners Act, 1978. While I have not seen these submissions, I am assured by the Medical Council that it will give due consideration to the Adelaide Hospital Society's submission as part of the review process.
