A 27-year-old male presents to the Emergency Department at 2 AM with a 4 cm laceration to his right forearm. He appears anxious and admits his roommate stabbed him during an argument about rent.
He is adamant that he does not want police involvement, stating "it was just a misunderstanding" and "we'll sort it out ourselves." The patient reveals his roommate has been increasingly aggressive recently, but insists this was a one-time incident.
Social history: Lives with two roommates in shared accommodation. Works as a bartender. No alcohol was consumed tonight before the incident.
What is the most appropriate action regarding disclosure to the police in this situation?
Respect patient confidentiality and do not inform police, as no consent has been given
Inform the hospital's Caldicott Guardian, who will decide whether police disclosure is appropriate
Inform police only if the weapon used was a knife with a blade longer than 3 inches
Respect patient confidentiality initially, but inform police if further concerns about domestic abuse arise
Explain to the patient that disclosure to police is mandatory, and proceed to inform them