Coroner.

"(4) Every medical practitioner required to give a certificate and
a notice as aforesaid, or to report to the Coroner as provided by
the last preceding subsection, who refuses or neglects to do so is
liable to a fine not exceeding five pounds."

Recently a consultation on this matter was held between the Minister of
Health and members of the Council of the New Zealand Branch of the
British Medical Association.

The Association expressed the opinion that the resolutions of the Royal
College of Physicians (England), which were laid down as a result of a
similar controversy in Great Britain, constituted the most satisfactory
guide in these difficult and responsible situations, and informed the
Minister that steps would be taken to make the position clear to all
its members. The resolutions are as follows:--

"The College is of opinion--

"1. That a moral obligation rests upon every medical practitioner
to respect the confidence of his patient; and that without her
consent he is not justified in disclosing information obtained in
the course of his professional attendance on her.

"2. That every medical practitioner who is convinced that criminal
abortion has been practised on his patient should urge her,
especially when she is likely to die, to make a statement which may
be taken as evidence against the person who has performed the
operation, provided always that her chances of recovery are not
thereby prejudiced.

"3. That in the event of her refusal to make such a statement he is
under no legal obligation (so the college is advised) to take
further action, but he should continue to attend the patient to the
best of his ability.

"4. That before taking any action which may lead to legal
proceedings, a medical practitioner will be wise to obtain the best
medical and legal advice available, both to ensure that the
patient's statement may have value as legal evidence and to
safeguard his own interest since in the present state of the law
there is no certainty that he will be protected against subsequent
litigation.

"5. That if the patient should die he should refuse to give a
certificate of the cause of death, and should communicate with the
Coroner.

"The college has been advised to the following effect:--

"1. That the medical practitioner is under no legal obligation
eith