Comments
In all cases, the first strategy is to obtain the informed consent of the patient before revealing any information obtained in the course of medical consultation. Refusal of consent by patient limits further activity, but does not prohibit it altogether. Anonymised or aggregated information would not breach confidentiality. Equally, breach of confidentiality might be justified - or even required - in some circumstances. Thus, for example, prevention of spread of disease or the protection of the individual patient might require that non-medical staff be informed of a patient's condition. There are, however, more borderline cases. Thus, if there is a consistent run of cases of clear ill treatment emerging from one particular source, the doctor may be under an obligation to bring this to the attention of the appropriate authorities whatever the individual patients say. This is a matter to be resolved by discussion among your own professional colleagues and Associations.
Exercise
What do you do if the detainee provides a totally improbable account of how injuries were received?