0-18 years guidance: Public interest

1. 47. You can disclose, without consent, information that identifies the child or young person, in the public interest. A disclosure is in the public interest if the benefits which are likely to arise from the release of information outweigh both the child or young person’s interest in keeping the information confidential and society’s interest in maintaining trust between doctors and patients. You must make this judgement case by case, by weighing up the various interests involved.
2. 48. When considering whether disclosure would be justified you should:
3. 1. a. tell the child or young person what you propose to disclose and why, unless that would undermine the purpose or place the child or young person at increased risk of harm
   2. b. ask for consent to the disclosure, if you judge the young person to be competent to  make the decision, unless it is not practical to do so.
4. 49. If a child or young person refuses consent, or if it is not practical to ask for consent, you should consider the benefits and possible harms that may arise from disclosure. You should consider any views given by the child or young person on why you should not disclose the information. But you should disclose information if this is necessary to protect the child or young person, or someone else, from risk of death or serious harm. Such cases may arise, for example, if:
5. 1. a. a child or young person is at risk of neglect or sexual, physical or emotional abuse (see paragraphs 56 to 63)
   2. b. the information would help in the prevention, detection or prosecution of serious crime, usually crime against the person²²
   3. c. a child or young person is involved in behaviour that might put them or others at risk of serious harm, such as serious addiction, self-harm or joy-riding.
6. 50. If you judge that disclosure is justified, you should disclose the information promptly to an appropriate person or authority and record your discussions and reasons. If you judge that disclosure is not justified, you should record your reasons for not disclosing.