Virtual Mentor. May 2012, Volume 14, Number 5: 363-436. Full Issue PDF

May 2012 Contents

When It's Not Your Patient

Ethics Poll

Under which of the following conditions do you think it is ethically permissible for a physician to treat family members? Check all that apply.
In emergency situations only, where no other physician is available.
When the symptoms are urgent, but not emergent [e.g., high fever in an infant] and it is impossible or inconvenient to get to the patient's regular physician for a matter of hours.
When the symptoms are minor [e.g., a cold, poison ivy].
For any medical condition not related to sexual activity, reproduction, or the illegal use of drugs.
For any symptoms that are physical and not psychiatric.
For chronic, routine conditions (physical and psychiatric) that the family member has been treated for in the past by other physicians.
For prescribing or renewal of any medication except controlled substances (e.g., opioids).
When the physician's treatment of the family member is kept confidential.
Under no conditions.

A commentor quoted in this issue of Virtual Mentor predicts that the future role of the generalist physician is likely to be supervising physician assistants and advanced nurse practitioners who deliver most of the primary care, while the physician provides care only for patients with complex illnesses who are hospitalized. Considering patients' access to care and the training and competence of the care givers, do you think this change would improve primary care?
Yes.
No.
Don't know.

Have you ever sought a second opinion and then switched permanently to the second-opinion physician from the physician you were initially seeing?
Yes.
No.

From the Editor

The Patient-Physician Relationship: Classic Questions and New Directions
Alex Folkl
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:365-367.

Educating for Professionalism

Ethics Cases

Requests for Care from Family Members
Commentary by Erik K. Fromme
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:368-372.

Responsibility for Patients after the Handoff
Commentary by Robert Macauley
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:373-377.

A University Physician’s Duty to Nonpatient Students
Commentary by Cynthia Geppert
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:378-382.

Medical Education

A Longitudinal Approach to Handoff Training
Jeanne M. Farnan and Vineet M. Arora
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:383-388.

Turfing Revisited
Catherine V. Caldicott
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:389-395.

The Code Says

The AMA Code of Medical Ethics’ Opinion on Physicians Treating Family Members
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:396-397.

State of the Art and Science

The Patient, the Physician, and Dr. Google
Bradford W. Hesse
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:398-402.

Law, Policy, and Society

Health Law

When Is a Patient-Physician Relationship Established?
Valarie Blake
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:403-406.

Policy Forum

Assignment, Attribution, and Accountability: New Responsibilities and Relationships in Accountable Care Organizations
Harold S. Luft
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:407-410.

Physician Assistants and Their Role in Primary Care
James F. Cawley
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:411-414.

Medicine and Society

Individualism, Solidarity, and U.S. Health Care
James E. Sabin
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:415-418.

History, Art, and Narrative

Medical Narrative

A Medical Student-Cadaver Relationship
Helena Winston
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:419-421.

Op-Ed and Correspondence

Op-Ed

Follow-Up after a Health Fair
Carolyn T. Bramante and John Song
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:422-425.

Resources

Suggested Readings and Resources
PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:426-433.

About the Contributors
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2012; 14:434-436.

© 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.