GPs argue the notion of 'informed consent' is not being properly addressed by insurance companies
General Practitioners' representatives have met the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) in recent weeks to discuss their concerns over the level of access insurance companies have to patient files.
Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) representatives say the IIF is now considering the concern after what Dr Martin Daly, chairman of the IMO's national GP committee, described as "a very frank and comprehensive discussion around all aspects of provision of medical information".
GPs believe the notion of patients' "informed consent" is not being addressed, says Daly. "We think that there is an obligation on the insurance companies to explain to clients in detail what is expected when they sign forms to release their medical information.
"We feel that patients have no real understanding of the comprehensive nature of the disclosure form they are signing."
The IMO says the issue should be tackled by the insurance or financial services company supplying a detailed information leaflet to their clients before they are asked to sign a disclosure form.
"We also think that doctors will have to make contact with their patients and ask them if they want that information to be disclosed," he says.
Thirdly, the IMO wants the issue of third-party information, whereby people can be asked about family medical history, to be tightened.
"We realise that family medical information can be important but should be disclosed in such a way that it would not compromise third parties in relation to their private medical history."
However, Jennifer Hoban, a spokeswoman for the IIF, says medical information is assessed by underwriters who are specially trained for the purpose and are bound by the same confidentiality rules as doctors.
"Insurance companies do have a chief medical officer who is a doctor and is there to provide professional assistance and advice," she says.
She says that insurers seek access to an individual's medical records to get "a full and complete picture of the individual's health" when making an assessment for a particular product.
"Insurance companies really only look for such information as is relevant to the underwriting of that type of product."
She adds that the insurance companies try to make people aware that they are under legal obligation to provide access to all relevant information about their health.