Physicians' Legal and Ethical Responsibilities
What are two common law limitations for when a physician can refuse to treat a patient?
A) When the patient is a family member and when the patient is a close friend
B) When the patient is uninsured and when the physician is on vacation
C) When the patient has a contagious disease and when the physician is too busy
D) When the patient is wealthy and when the physician is not interested
Final answer:
Physicians may refuse to treat patients lawfully if the patient poses a public health risk due to a contagious disease, or if the patient is financially unable to pay and there is no viable reimbursement method. Not all reasons for refusal are legally or ethically justifiable, and policies can differ based on location and the physician's practice.
Explanation:
Two common law limitations on when a physician can refuse to treat a patient are when the patient has a contagious disease that risks the health of the public, and when the patient is financially unable to pay for the treatment, particularly if the physician anticipates that the treatment costs might not be reimbursed. In the case of contagious diseases, if the patient poses a public health risk, the physician may be obligated to report the disease to health officials, but might not be required to provide ongoing treatment, especially if it falls outside their specialty or capacity.
Regarding financial limitations, while emergency treatment cannot be refused based on ability to pay, continued or elective treatments might not be offered to those who are uninsured or underinsured if the physician's practice is not equipped to absorb the costs. However, this can be complicated, as Medicaid and other programs aim to cover some of these individuals, and physicians might have varying policies on accepting Medicaid patients due to low reimbursement rates.
It's important to note that different geographical locations may have different laws, and ethical considerations also play a significant role in a physician's decision to treat or refuse a patient. Factors such as familial relationship or personal acquaintance (e.g., treating a family member or friend), and a physician's personal interest in a case (e.g., not treating a patient because they are wealthy or because the physician is not interested), are usually not lawful reasons to refuse treatment.