Operating on patients wearing personal identity devices: a report of two cases

We report on two patients who have recently required emergency surgery and who were wearing personal identity devices at the time of presentation. The devices bear a telephone number and a message stating that, if found, the management company should be informed of the whereabouts of their owner. We discuss the issues relating to the disclosure of information to a third party in this situation and whether there is any legal obligation to do so. The conclusion of a review of the relevant literature is that the only reason to divulge information to a third party would be if a patient posed a serious risk of death or serious harm to another party. In the majority of foreseeable circumstances, this would not be the case.