Did you know that a GP can refuse to examine or treat a victim of an assault?

[Angelfishsolo]

Did you know that a GP can refuse to examine or treat a victim of an assault? I didn't until I have my face slashed.

My GP stated that he was under no obligation to examine or treat me as the police had there own people and a photograph from SOCO (Scene of Crimes Officer) was adequate anyway.

 

[Twenty Inch]

Slashed? Not being funny - I've seen worse scratches from a rabbit. Bad news about the GP though.

 

[Crackle]

Was it a Ninja rabbit?

GP's don't have to do quite a few things and can charge for medical exams and letters etc... Basicaly if it's outside of the core health service they run. Just wait'till your GP's been replaced by a Tesco drop-in centre.

Nasty scratches them. Believe it or not Minouka honey and teetree is an excellent healing balm.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I have had worse scratches. Slashed was the term the police used.

Slashed? Not being funny - I've seen worse scratches from a rabbit. Bad news about the GP though.

 

[swee'pea99]

In the States, doctors routinely drive past accident scenes, for fear of litigation. It's like at the end of Top Gear's American adventure, when they gave away their vee-hickles to anyone who wanted them, and were contacted by a lawyer saying they had described one of them as a '78 Cadillac but it turned out it was actually a '77 model, so her client was planning to sue...but for $10,000 in readies she could make it go away.

 

[Maz]

What if you told the GP you were doing a DIY job at home and you cut yourself? Surely they can't refuse to see you. OK it's a bit of a fib, but...

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Seems they are a law unto themselves seeing as the police and the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence were both unaware of this policy. If it was a DIY wound I would be referred direct to Casualty as it is outside the GP's remit (I know this for a fact as it happened to me about a year ago)!!!

What if you told the GP you were doing a DIY job at home and you cut yourself? Surely they can't refuse to see you. OK it's a bit of a fib, but...

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I appreciate that situation. However the difference here is I, the patient, have consented to the Dr's treatment / examination and am making a request based on the requirements of the UK's legal system.

[quote name='swee'pea99']In the States, doctors routinely drive past accident scenes, for fear of litigation. It's like at the end of Top Gear's American adventure, when they gave away their vee-hickles to anyone who wanted them, and were contacted by a lawyer saying they had described one of them as a '78 Cadillac but it turned out it was actually a '77 model, so her client was planning to sue...but for $10,000 in readies she could make it go away.[/quote]

 

[mangaman]

As you say I would go to casualty if I were a victim of a slashing

They know how to deal with trauma much better than a GP

 

[gratts]

Did you even need to see a doctor for that?
Is it deeper than it looks?