When physicians treat members of their own families: practices in a community hospital

Article Abstract:

There are many anecdotes regarding the potential problems associated with physicians treating their own family members. However, there is little data to indicate how frequently this occurs. Furthermore, there have been no studies that focus on the attitudes of physicians towards treating family members or on the types of medical treatment that are administered to family members. A study was conducted to survey the opinions and experiences of physicians concerning the treatment of their family members. Questionnaires were sent to 691 members of the staff at a community hospital; 465 responses were received. As might be expected, most (99 percent) of the physicians reported that they had been asked for advice by family members. Eighty-three percent had prescribed medication for family members, and 80 percent had diagnosed illnesses. Fifteen percent had acted as the primary attending physician during a family member's hospital stay, and 9 percent had performed surgery on a family member. In some cases, the physicians refused requests of family members that they felt were inappropriate, were outside their field of expertise, or for which they felt their relationship was too close to permit objective judgement. However, 22 percent of the physicians reported having gone along with some requests, despite feeling uncomfortable about them. A third of the responding physicians reported observing a fellow physician giving inappropriate care to a family member. This study did not compare the quality of the medical care given to family members with the quality of medical care in general. However, the results indicate that many physicians are actively involved in the health care of close relatives. The potential problems associated with this kind of care are clear; further research and discussion should continue in this area. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

User Contributions:

1

Anonymous

May 21, 2009 @ 2:02 am

I understand the myriad dilemmas when physicians treat family members. Some organizations, such as the American College of Surgeons, feel the practice to be unethical and I agree. Years ago as a Resident Surgeon I was appalled when my attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon chose to perform CABG surgery on his own father. Today that surgeon would be subject to sanction by his State Medical Board and Surgical Colleges. In my opinion the practice could only be justified in the case of an emergency where no other competent surgeon was available and the procedure was deemed to be life saving.

I think there is another entirely different dilemma that exists that needs much more consideration and debate. That dilemma is the role of the physician as a care advocate for a family member. I recently lost my father due to what I and other physicians consider extremely poor care and even malpractice on the part of several physicians involved in my fathers care. It was a miserable position to be in because my family and I essentially had no remedy. The physicians in question were unresponsive to our concerns as a family and in fact took on a somewhat adversarial position. I believe from personal experience that situations like ours occur all too often. I also believe that disciplinary and legal action is the necessary remedy.

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Physicians' autonomy - the relation between public and professional expectations

Article Abstract:

The debate over health care reform has lead many physicians to believe that they will lose their professional autonomy should many of the reforms be implemented. However, many of these decisions rightfully belong to the public and their elected representatives. Physicians are accorded considerable autonomy in the US because of their specialized knowledge, which is outside the realm of most consumers. But knowledge of medicine does not necessarily give the physician the right to decide how medicine should be practiced. Since doctors are assumed to act in the patient's interest, these decisions belong to the public. Indeed, doctors will only lose credibility if they object to the involvement of non-medical individuals in the health care debate. Physicians do have a role to play in health care reform, but they must not undermine public policy decisions.

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