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Here is the scenario, tell me what is the ethically correct thing to do.
A doctor saw a patient via consult in the hospital for a serious but treatable condition. Patient then sees this doctor for the next few years for treatment and monitoring of this condition. The patient does not heed all of doctors advice. Doctor says to have something drastic like surgery but patient decides to wait on surgery and prolong treatment as much as they can. The patient has insurance but owes the doctor whatever the insurance did not reimburse. Patient has an outstanding balance due to the office.
The patient hasn't seen this particular doctor in a year and the patient ends up in the ER unexpectedly. The patient is not gravely ill but needs to be treated and admitted. ER doc asks the patient who their doctor is and patient says doctor so and so. ER doc calls up this doctor that has been treating the patient and informs him of the situation and the doctor says he will not see the patient.
If you were this patient's doctor, how would you approach this situation?
A doctor saw a patient via consult in the hospital for a serious but treatable condition. Patient then sees this doctor for the next few years for treatment and monitoring of this condition. The patient does not heed all of doctors advice. Doctor says to have something drastic like surgery but patient decides to wait on surgery and prolong treatment as much as they can. The patient has insurance but owes the doctor whatever the insurance did not reimburse. Patient has an outstanding balance due to the office.
The patient hasn't seen this particular doctor in a year and the patient ends up in the ER unexpectedly. The patient is not gravely ill but needs to be treated and admitted. ER doc asks the patient who their doctor is and patient says doctor so and so. ER doc calls up this doctor that has been treating the patient and informs him of the situation and the doctor says he will not see the patient.
If you were this patient's doctor, how would you approach this situation?