Monday, February 27, 2012

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Doctors


I chose to do this post on the legal and ethical responsibilities of doctors. We have all been to a doctor during our lives, and they play an important role in our society. We would like to think that the practice legal and ethical responsibilities.

Doctors have a legal duty to keep their patient information confidential.  There may be times when a mandatory report is necessary. A mandatory report is when a doctor is required to report something to the appropriate agency. If a doctor fails to do this, it could result in a range of penalties. It is very important for patients to trust their doctor. Doctors are who we go to when there is something wrong with our health, so that trust is vital for patients to talk about sensitive subjects. Doctors can be required to include certain information and professional medical opinions in their reports. Legally, a doctor must report any suspicions of abuse or neglect of a child. The Children’s Aid Society must be notified when a doctor has these suspicions, even if they have been made before.




If a doctor suspects health care fraud, he or she must report it to the General Manager of OHIP. If a doctor treats a person with a communicable disease, a report needs to be made to the Medical Officer of Health to the appropriate unit where the health care services were provided. If a doctor discovers that a drug or narcotic has been lost or stolen,  the doctor must report it to the Office of Controlled Drugs and Substances, Federal Minister of Health within  days. A doctor  is not permitted to accept money or gifts in exchange for improved access to an insured health service.

As I mentioned above, doctors have a great responsibility. Aside from keeping us healthy, there are many legal issues doctors face on a daily basis. If a doctor fails to adhere to these responsibilities, the doctor’s practice may be compromised.  As patients, we feel more comfortable taking our health issues to a doctor who takes their profession seriously and abides by the law.




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