Doctors have many duties toward their patients. Their responsibilities cover their own actions, as well as orders they give to their assistants, such as nurses, medical students and residents. Here are the doctor’s obligations toward patients.
Diagnosing and Treating the Patient
In legal terms, doctors have an obligation of means toward their patients, not an obligation of result. This means that they have to take appropriate steps available to make the right diagnosis, provide treatment and follow-up on their patients’ progress.
Doctors must base their actions on up-to-date scientific information and use recognized treatments in the right way.
They must treat their patients attentively and conscientiously.
Doctors must recognize their own limits: in case of doubt, they must get information from other people or refer patients to specialists.
The duty to treat patients includes the duty to
- prescribe the right medication,
- tell patients about the advantages, disadvantages, risks and alternatives regarding a proposed treatment or operation, and
- provide adequate follow-up to the patient within a reasonable amount of time.
For example, after a treatment, a doctor must provide the medical follow-up required by the patient’s state of health, or at least make sure that a colleague or other professional follows up.
