Duties of a Doctor Flashcards
What is compassion?
An emotive response to the suffering of others which motivates a desire to provide support and help.
Compassion versus emotional detached for own mental health
What is resilience?
The ability to maintain professional and personal well-being in the face if ongoing work stress and adversity
How can resilience be improved?
Supportive work environment Socialising Humour High levels of job satisfaction Increasing social support, coping skills and spiritual connection Building a positive identity
What is a good samaritan act?
Where emergency medical assistance is provided, free of charge and in an environment where the doctor is present in a personal rather than professional capacity
No legal duty of care if it is away from place of work
Will not be sued as protected b the Social Action, Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015
Do you have to provide care in an emergency?
GMC states:
You must offer help if emergencies arise in clinical settings or in the community, taking account of your own safety, your competence and the availability of other options of care
Once you have provided medical assistance outside of work, a duty of care is established, of a standard that can ‘reasonably’ be expected in the circumstances
When does a doctor owe a duty of care to a patient?
If it was reasonably foreseeable that the doctor’s actions or lack of action could harm the patient, that the patient were in a sufficiently proximate relationship and if it would be fair, just and reasonable to owe a duty of care.
What are the 2 types of liability?
Direct: Duty to provide competent and qualified employees, necessary equipment and safe communication systems in the hospital
Vicarious: An employer would be vicariously liable for negligent acts performed by an employee during the course of employment
What are the limitations to a doctor’s duty of care?
In the face of violent, threatening or abusive behaviour from a patient
A doctor can end a professional doctor-patient relationship if the breakdown of trust means good clinical care can no longer be provided
What happens if your consultant has disregarded the possibility of child abuse but you have ongoing concerns?
GMC:
You should follow up your concerns and take them to the next level of authority if you believe that a person is still and risk or suffering abuse or neglect
NHS trusts have local protocols, which should be adhered to. They will also have a designated lead specialist for child safeguarding who can be contacted for advice in an emergency
What should you do when family members ask for medical advice?
Say that you are not their doctor and they should seek advice from the relevant professional (eg GP)
GMC: ‘wherever possible you should avoid providing medical care to anyone with whom you have a close personal relationship’
Why should you not treat loved ones?
- Inability to be impartial
- Pt may feel unable to refuse treatment
- Intimate examination may be awkward
- Accusations of nepotism if pt is seen quicker
- Accusations of neglect if they stand to benefit from a patient’s death
- Reassurance may lead to massive guilt if relative has undiagnosed sinister illness
- Confidentiality
Can doctors use online forums to discuss cases etc?
BMA and GMC acknowledges they can be beneficial by enhancing professional sharing of knowledge and case studies
BUT confidentiality is crucial
Pt consent to publish info about them should be documented
Professional boundary blurring (doctor’s personal posts may be seen by patients)
What does the DVLA need to know about?
The patient has the duty to notify the DVLA about:
- Epilepsy
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Diabetes mellitus
- Psychiatric conditions
- Drug and alcohol misuse
- Visual disorders
- Renal disorders
- Respiratory and sleep disorders
If a patient is advised not to drive by his doctor, what should happen?
They should take the advice from their doctor and also inform the DVLA of their condition
Risks to pt should be discussed again
If the doctor finds out they are still driving, confidentiality should be broken and the DVLA should be informed
There is no absolute legal obligation to inform DVLA or employer
What does the NHS Research Authority do?
To protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health research, and to streamline the regulation of research
Ensures research involving humans is ethical, safe and of high quality
