News & Knowledge Risk Management Guide: Patient Dismissal PATIENT DISMISSAL Once the physician-patient relationship has begun, the physician has a duty to continue seeing the patient for as long as treatment is necessary. However, there may be instances in which it becomes non-beneficial for either or both of the parties to continue the relationship. A physician may choose to terminate a relationship with a patient when the relationship has been compromised due to communication breakdowns, non-adherence to treatment plans, missed appointments, unreasonably demanding behavior, verbal or physical abuse of staff, or other issues non-compatible with continued care. Note: It is not acceptable and could open the physician/practice up to civil liability actions to dismiss a patient solely based on… Are you a Curi member? The full content of this resource is available only to Curi members. If you are a member but do not have an account, you can register for an account. If you are unable to register, or want to learn more about becoming a Curi member, contact us for more assistance. As of January 30, 2025, signing in to Curi.com will be easier and more secure. We have a new unified “Sign in” for all clients with multi-factor authentication (MFA). After entering your password, the same one you use now, you will also enter a code sent to your registered email account. Contact us with any questions. Sign In Curi’s risk mitigation resources and guidance are offered for educational and informational purposes only. This information is not medical or legal advice, does not replace independent professional judgment, does not constitute an endorsement of any kind, should not be deemed authoritative, and does not establish a standard of care in clinical settings or in courts of law. If you need legal advice, you should consult your independent/corporate counsel. We have found that using risk mitigation efforts can reduce malpractice risk; however, we do not make any guarantees that following these risk recommendations will prevent a complaint, claim, or suit from occurring, or mitigate the outcome(s) associated with any of them. READ NEXT February 5, 2025February 12, 2025Hospitals/Health Systems | Practice Management | Risk Management | Senior Living | Well-Being Utah: Impaired Health Professionals There are a variety of circumstances and conditions that can cause a health professional to become impaired and compromise their ability to engage in patient care… Read more February 5, 2025February 12, 2025Hospitals/Health Systems | Practice Management | Risk Management | Senior Living | Well-Being North Carolina: Impaired Health Professionals There are a variety of circumstances and conditions that can cause a health professional to become impaired and compromise their ability to engage in patient care… Read more February 5, 2025February 12, 2025Hospitals/Health Systems | Practice Management | Risk Management | Senior Living | Well-Being Montana: Impaired Health Professionals There are a variety of circumstances and conditions that can cause a health professional to become impaired and compromise their ability to engage in patient care… Read more