Pain Ethics

[Spine Specialist]

I am taking care of one old nice couple who both suffer from pain problems. I gave the woman a series of epidural injections which worked like magic and she is pain free. She is very thankful and wants to give me a gift ( a watch) as a token of appreciation. I told her politely that i cannot accept her gift.
I am just wondering....is it ethical to accept gifts from your patient?
I have seen my previous boss accepting gifts.

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[lobelsteve]

I am taking care of one old nice couple who both suffer from pain problems. I gave the woman a series of epidural injections which worked like magic and she is pain free. She is very thankful and wants to give me a gift ( a watch) as a token of appreciation. I told her politely that i cannot accept her gift.
I am just wondering....is it ethical to accept gifts from your patient?
I have seen my previous boss accepting gifts.

Ethics is where the law has not yet spoken. The AMA keeps track of medical ethics and you can check their website for their guide.

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2498.html

I'd take the watch- but only if I was not Rx'ing controlled substances.

 

[C Fiber]

I don't think there is a definite written law regarding this. I don't usually refuse small gifts like cakes, cookies, candies, etc. 😛 But I am not so sure about a watch, especially an expensive one. There is something called the "eyebrow test" in income tax deduction. Perhaps we can use this rule in personal gifts. If you think your action will cause most people to "raise their eyebrows", then the gift may be too much, and you are taking a risk....Just my personal opinion and guideline. 🙂

 

[Spine Specialist]

What's your opinion algosdoc? I always value your opinion. 🙂

 

[Aether2000]

For our practice, we have limited any "gifts" to food as my staff is always appreciative of such. When we receive a gift card to a restaurant from a drug company, I take my staff there. I have not been offered a watch, but do not wear one anyway, so the issue has not come up.
Now if someone were to offer me $10,000,000 and an ocean going vessel, then I might take them up on it. Of course, there would be no more practicing pain management after that 🙂