A patient has a knife wound in his side.It is about four-inches long, 1/2- to 3/4-inch deep, and needs suturing.The patient gets agitated when he hears the physician reporting the injury to the authorities, even though the patient said it was an accident.Which of the following best describes the legal requirement of the provider to report the patient's stab wound?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The legal requirement of the provider to report the patient's stab wound falls under the public duty exception to confidentiality. Healthcare providers are mandated to report certain injuries in order to protect public health and safety, even if the patient does not want the information reported. In this case, the knife wound may be considered a potential criminal act, and the provider has a duty to report it to the authorities.

A Patient Has a Knife Wound in His Side