Italy sets the standard for patient rights

I READ with sadness the unfortunate account of Kevin Murphy (Irish Examiner, May 11) and the apparent muddling connected with his medical records.

In Italy it is standard practice, on payment of an administrative fee, for doctors and hospitals to supply patients with copies of all tests, diagnoses, medical notes, X-rays and so on.

Patients can take their file to any doctor they wish for a second or further opinion. They can also research any symptoms or diagnoses listed, and on occasion this has led to patients themselves discovering the true nature of their illness when other medical personnel have been baffled.

Then a suitable course of treatment could be undertaken, supervised by medical professionals. I do not see any reason why this practice could not be followed here. It would be far more democratic than files circulating over the patient’s head, as it were, and might help avoid such tragedies in future.

Nick Folley,

36, Ardcarrig,

Carrigaline,

Co Cork.