As every doctor knows, requests for medical advice do not end when a doctor leaves the practice for the day. They are made at home, parking lots, theatres, markets, on airport and planes, at commonly at weddings and even funerals. Physicians may be asked or choose to provide medical care to family members or to give informal or undocumented care to friends, neighbors, or colleagues who are not their patients. Treatment can range from refilling aprescription, discussing a recent injury or ordering a test to performing major surgeries.
The ethical risks of caring for relatives or friends or providing informal and undocumented care are substantial but may be overlooked. Although there may be limited situations in which providing medical treatment for friends and family is acceptable, these situations are often nuanced. A 1991 study showed that 99% of surveyed physicians reported having…
