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Do Physicians Have a Duty to Treat Medicare Patients?

Do Physicians Have a Duty to Treat Medicare Patients? Abstract MODERN physicians make great efforts to enter and maintain relationships with patients through the adversities of treating the illness that brings them together. This action reflects an ethical view articulated in historical and modern medical writings, that the beneficial effects of their special learning confers on physicians a duty to use this knowledge in the service of humanity. But the controversy surrounding the issue of whether physicians should decline to accept patients insured by Medicare has caused this historical perspective on the duty to use medical knowledge to be challenged. This article examines the conflicting values and arguments pervading this controversy, and seeks to sort out and balance them. JUSTIFICATIONS FOR NOT BEGINNING A MEDICAL RELATIONSHIP There are circumstances when physicians can override the ideal of service to humanity and not accept persons wanting to be their patients. One situation concerns harm to the patient seeking help. For example, a References 1. American Medical Association. Current Opinions: The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs . Chicago, III: American Medical Association; 1989. 2. Hippocratic Oath . In: Jones WHS, trans. Hippocrates . Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press; 1923;1:164-165. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Internal Medicine American Medical Association

Do Physicians Have a Duty to Treat Medicare Patients?

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References (2)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1993 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-9926
eISSN
1538-3679
DOI
10.1001/archinte.1993.00410050007002
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract MODERN physicians make great efforts to enter and maintain relationships with patients through the adversities of treating the illness that brings them together. This action reflects an ethical view articulated in historical and modern medical writings, that the beneficial effects of their special learning confers on physicians a duty to use this knowledge in the service of humanity. But the controversy surrounding the issue of whether physicians should decline to accept patients insured by Medicare has caused this historical perspective on the duty to use medical knowledge to be challenged. This article examines the conflicting values and arguments pervading this controversy, and seeks to sort out and balance them. JUSTIFICATIONS FOR NOT BEGINNING A MEDICAL RELATIONSHIP There are circumstances when physicians can override the ideal of service to humanity and not accept persons wanting to be their patients. One situation concerns harm to the patient seeking help. For example, a References 1. American Medical Association. Current Opinions: The Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs . Chicago, III: American Medical Association; 1989. 2. Hippocratic Oath . In: Jones WHS, trans. Hippocrates . Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press; 1923;1:164-165.

Journal

Archives of Internal Medicine – American Medical Association

Published: Mar 8, 1993

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