What happens if your patient wants no
action to be taken
• To take further action when a patient has specifically
stated they do not want this to happen could be a
breach of article 8 of the Human Rights Act, the right to
privacy
• The only time you should take action against the
wishes of a patient is if they lack capacity or there is a
wider public interest concern.
• Wider public interest could include if the abuse was
perpetrated by someone paid to be in a caring role; if
others were potentially at risk if no further action was
taken or the suspected abuse amounts to a possible
criminal offence