The flash player was unable to start. If you have a flash blocker then try unblocking the flash content - it should be visible below.
Treating family members without proper evaluation in a clinical setting (ie: without vital signs, examination, or other variable tests) is frankly an injustice to our loved ones. Mike discusses with many practitioners the dangers of doing this, and how at the end of the day it's frankly hard to be objective with your loved ones.
Colin K. - June 11, 2016 6:53 AM
I have no problem treating friends and family members for simple, self-limited problems and have been doing so for the last 20 years of practice. I do however send people to the ED or facilitate referral to a specialist when the problem is complicated or I feel my judgement may be compromised by my relationship with the individual in question. I am occasionally asked about the inpatient treatment of friends or family members. I am very careful to not interfere in their care by the attending physician taking care of them. I have taken the time on many occasions to discuss their case with their attending doctor ( with their fully documented permission) and I have found that I can help in explaining to the patient about how and why the doc is doing what he or she is doing. It can go a long way toward reassuring the patient that their care is being handled well. On the flip side, I have caught a couple of big mistakes in care by respectfully questioning the diagnostic and treatment plans on a both a family member and the mother of a personal friend. In the first case, the hospitalist was going to send home a relative and I convinced her to do some cardiac imaging...95% LAD lesion that was causing the fatigue and vague SOB. The other was a missed full-blown serotonin syndrome!
I agree that it can become a slippery slope and you have to be vigilant when taking care of friends and family members to be sure you don't cross the line into bad territory. And NEVER prescribe a controlled substance to someone who is not under your care in a formal, documented, doctor-patient relationship! Just my thoughts.