Can a doctor treat a family member?

In general, physicians should not treat themselves or members of their own families. However, it may be acceptable to do so in limited circumstances: (a) In emergency settings or isolated settings where there is no other qualified physician available.

What is an example of therapeutic privilege?

Another example is the so-called therapeutic privilege, stating that a physician may legitimately withhold relevant information from the patient if disclosing the information would bear the risk of harming the patient (e.g., causing depression, resignation, or anxiety).

What’s considered immediate family?

Immediate family is limited to the spouse, parents, stepparents, foster parents, father-in-law, mother-in-law, children, stepchildren, foster children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and first cousins.

Why do patients withhold information from doctors?

The most common reasons for nondisclosure included not wanting to be judged or lectured, not wanting to hear how harmful a particular behavior is, and being embarrassed. In both groups, women, younger participants and those who rated their own health as poor were more likely to say they withheld information.

What is the only ground for therapeutic privilege?

The therapeutic privilege is an exception to the general rule of informed consent, and only applies when disclosure of the information itself could pose serious and immediate harm to the patient, such as prompting suicidal behavior.

Should a doctor ever withhold information from a patient about a diagnosis in an effort to keep their spirits high?

Withholding medical information from patients without their knowledge or consent is ethically unacceptable. Physicians should encourage patients to specify their preferences regarding communication of their medical information, preferably before the information becomes available.

When primary care doctors fail to refer you to a specialist?

When primary care doctors failure to refer patients who need a specialist, this is medical malpractice. You wouldn’t go to a gynecologist for open heart surgery or to a dentist to treat a broken leg because you know they don’t specialize in the kind of treatment you need.

Is it ethical to refer a patient to a specialist?

It is ethical to refer patients for specialist care if the need arises. A referral from a physician should be for the best interest of the patient’s well-being and not the basis for some monetary gains for the attending physician.

Why do doctors refer patients to specialists?

Most cases of referral of patients is therefore for proper diagnosis, adequate investigations and their proper treatment by the receiving specialists. It is mostly assumed and believed that patients depend on the medical information available to their health care providers.

Why is my doctor referring me to another doctor?

It may not be easy to understand why you are being referred to another doctor, when you already did all the tests you were asked to. Let’s take a look at why doctors refer patients to fellow doctors or specialists: A simple cough may be all that it is – a simple cough, or it may signal something more serious like tuberculosis or cancer.