The Physician-Patient Relationship
Learn about how physician-patient relationships form and the duties that arise regardless of whether a physician-patient relationship forms.
Transcript
In general, a physician owes legal duties to a patient only after a physician-patient relationship is formed. However, once a physician-patient relationship has been formed, the physician owes continuing duties to the patient, such as duties regarding the patient’s consent, privacy, and care, unless and until the relationship is terminated. Thus, the beginning and end of a physician-patient relationship are important bookends for determining a physician’s legal duties and potential liability,...