A rock and a hard place? Ministry of Defence | Defence News | MOD confirms loss of recruitment data

[Roland Perry]

In article <D062CFFC-6A14-4037-A277-F6F4612E053B@batten.eu.org>, Ian 
Batten <igb@batten.eu.org> writes
>> What's relevant to this list is that the computer record that is 
>>created  (for example by A&E as you first encounter the hospital) will 
>>contain  the mobile phone number of that next of kin person (often 
>>done by   asking  the patient to report who the next of kin is) -- and 
>>that data will be  retained (many people come back to A&E again and 
>>have the same next of  kin on the next occasion so it reduces data entry).
>
>Who defines next of kin?  Does it mean ``someone you'd like to be 
>told'', ``someone you'd like to consent on your behalf'', ``someone  we 
>all agree _can_ consent on your behalf'', ``someone who _will_ consider 
>consent on your behalf''...?

My cynical side says "it's anyone who will offer to drive the patient 
home if/when we get to the point of needing their bed back".
-- 
Roland Perry