REPORT OF BOARD OF COUNCILORS
BOC Report 2-A-07
Subject: Recently Adopted Opinions of Board of Councilors; Realignment of Clay County
Presented by: Ned Snyder, MD, Chair
Recently Adopted Opinions
The Board of Councilors discussed disclosure of conflicts to patients and adopted the following opinion:
Disclosure of Conflicts to Patients . A physician has an ethical obligation to disclose to his patient upon request any compensation arrangement with a health facility, prior to admission or utilization.
Upon request, a physician should give the patient a list of alternative facilities if such are available.
The board adopted the following opinion on use of chaperones during physical exams.
Use of Chaperones During Physical Exams . From the standpoint of ethics and prudence, the protocol of having chaperones available on a consistent basis for patient examinations, where appropriate, is recommended. Physicians aim to respect the patient's dignity and to make a positive effort to secure a comfortable and considerate atmosphere for the patient; such actions include the provision of appropriate gowns, private facilities for undressing, sensitive use of draping, and clear explanations on various components of the physical examination. A policy that patients are free to make a request for a chaperone should be established in each health care setting. This policy should be communicated to patients, either by means of a well-displayed notice or preferably through a conversation initiated by the intake nurse or the physician. The request by a patient to have a chaperone should be honored. An authorized health professional should serve as a chaperone whenever possible. In their practices, physicians should establish clear expectations about respecting patient privacy and confidentiality to which chaperones must adhere. If a chaperone is to be provided, a separate opportunity for private conversation between the patient and the physician should be allowed. The physician should keep inquiries and history-taking, especially those of a sensitive nature, to a minimum during the course of the chaperoned examination.
The board modified its previous opinion on treatment of family members to read:
Treatment of Family Members and Friends . One of the physician's primary duties is to alleviate suffering. Thus, it is ethical to treat family and friends in immediate need. In those circumstances medical records may not be relevant. The Board of Councilors cautions a physician treating his or her family or friends because of the potentially hazardous medical consequences.
The board adopted the following opinion on patient disclosure.
Patient Disclosure . Physicians should sensitively and respectfully disclose all relevant medical information to patients. The quantity and specificity of this information should be tailored to meet the preferences and needs of individual patients. Physicians need not communicate all information at one time, but should assess the amount of information that patients are capable of receiving at a given time and present the remainder when appropriate.
Realignment of Clay County
The Board of Councilors received a request from the physicians in Clay County for realignment with Wichita-Archer-Baylor-Knox County Medical Society. The board approved the request. The county medical society now will include the counties of Wichita, Archer, Baylor, Clay, and Knox.
TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2007