OK, I guess what I meant was, if breaking the confidentiality would protect someone, it is acceptable, morally and legally to do so. The mere suspicion that it might, however, is not acceptable reason IMHO. I would not withold this information from other health care staff who would come into contact with him - they have a right to be aware of it, but as I and others have said, looking at the wider picture, more lives will be saved, and the ambulance personnel are safer, if there is still that element of trust - the patient knowing that they can tell me what I need to know to treat them appropriately without fear of reprisals.