TMA Board of Councilors Current Opinions

https://www.texmed.org/CurrentOpinions/

ABANDONMENT. The unilateral severance by the physician of the patient-physician relationship without providing an adequate medical attendant or reasonable notice under existing circumstances of the physician’s intent to terminate the patient-physician relationship is abandonment and is unethical. (April. 2003)

COVERAGE OF PRACTICE. Following establishment of a patient-physician relationship, the physician remains responsible for the care of that patient until such time as the patient-physician relationship is ended in a proper and legal manner. It is recommended that a physician provide appropriate care and when a physician is unavailable, communicate to the patient an alternative for care.

DUTY TO DEAL HONESTLY WITH PATIENTS. It is a fundamental ethical requirement that a physician should at all times deal honestly and openly with patients. Patients have a right to know their past and present medical status and to be free of any mistaken beliefs concerning their conditions. Situations occasionally occur in which a patient suffers significant medical complications. In these situations, the physician is ethically required to inform the patient of all the facts necessary to ensure understanding of what has occurred. Only through full disclosure is a patient able to make informed discussions regarding future medical care.

Ethical responsibility includes informing patients of changes in their diagnosis resulting from retrospective review of test results or any other information. This obligation holds even though the patient’s medical treatment or therapeutic options may not be altered by the new information.

Filed under: General Problems