Reformation of patient confidentiality protocols is long overdue in particular regard to the health and wellbeing, mental illness and loss of capacity of our loved ones, within the health and social care services.

Unless a power of attorney is appointed, patient confidentiality protocols currently prevent family members from discussing their loved ones’ diagnoses, medication, and personal needs with their GPs when it is in the interest of the patient. These protocols need to be reformed. For example, in cases where a person's mental illness and/or loss of capacity may profoundly affect both them and their family members, and where those family members can assist in reaching a satisfactory outcome for the individual’s treatment and comfort.

Sometimes individuals living with mental illness or loss of capacity are unable or unwilling to communicate their condition to those around them. Although a GP’s diagnosis may be of great relevance to those family members around their patient, GPs are in no way obliged to communicate it, and thus family cannot obtain this important information in order to better care for their loved ones, improve their comfort, or simply understand their condition. This is a shortcoming in the GP's duty of care which extends not only to the patient but to those around them.