Dr. J is a colleague of yours in a large urban multi-specialty group. Dr. J recently was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer, and since then she has been an aggressive supporter of fundraising for breast cancer research and awareness. As part of her recent efforts, Dr. J has begun asking patients during their medical appointments to support breast cancer research by sponsoring her participation in a walk-a-thon. She has also begun speaking at city council meetings about supporting breast cancer research, and has petitioned a local hospital to establish a special breast cancer screening imaging center. Which of the following statements is true?

Question

Dr. J is a colleague of yours in a large urban multi-specialty group.  Dr. J recently was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer, and since then she has been an aggressive supporter of fundraising for breast cancer research and awareness.  As part of her recent efforts, Dr. J has begun asking patients during their medical appointments to support breast cancer research by sponsoring her participation in a walk-a-thon.  She has also begun speaking at city council meetings about supporting breast cancer research, and has petitioned a local hospital to establish a special breast cancer screening imaging center.  Which of the following statements is true?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Explanation: In this vignette, you are presented with a scenario where a colleague of yours has suffered from a serious illness and has overcome it. Subsequently she has aggressively supported fundraising for awareness and research for that illness. This is both an appropriate coping response to her potentially life-threatening diagnosis and an admirable way to expend effort for the common good. Dr. J has, however, violated an ethical principle of the doctor-patient relationship by allowing her disease and personal crusade to be a part of her clinical visits with her patients. While it is perfectly appropriate to share your own experiences with patients during a clinical visit, this should only be done in situations when it will benefit the patient, such as in an effort to build rapport or ease suffering. Additionally, solicitation for support or funds, no matter how noble the cause, should never be done during the clinical visit (Choice D). The time of the clinical visit is to be focused on the patient, not the physician. Additionally, if patients are solicited for funds or support during a clinical visit, they will feel compelled to contribute for fear of falling out of favor with the physician. (Choice A) There is no conflict of interest in the doctor in this vignette participating in fundraising for breast cancer research. Many people who have suffered from a disease, especially forms of cancer, will often champion research efforts after their diagnosis. It is not unacceptable for physicians to do the same. (Choice B) The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a law passed in 1996 that requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for providers, health plans, and employers. It also addresses the security and privacy of health data. The scope of the limitations on transmission of health information is beyond the scope of this question, but the essence is that no personal health information can be shared, even from provider to provider, without the permission of the patient. (Choice C) There is no evidence that the doctor in this vignette will gain from the establishment of an imaging center at a local hospital. (Choice E)This statement is inaccurate for reasons mentioned previously. Educational Objective: The physician's personal issues should never enter the interaction between doctor and patient during a clinical visit unless specifically solicited by the patient. A physician should never solicit for funds or other support, even for medically-related issues, during clinical visits because such efforts may alienate patients or make them feel that their care will be affected if they do or do not participate.

Dr J Is a Colleague of Yours in a Large