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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…

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.

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