e-Health Doctor-Patient Relationship

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that an e-health doctor-patient relationship is formed when communication begins. The writer maintains that online communication between doctors and patients can save time, money and be very satisfying to both parties if the process is structured well. The writer looks at issues, such as e-mail communication viewed as "treatment" and medicine practiced online by physicians who communicate via the Internet with patients. This paper discusses some ethical issues focusing on online communication and the doctor-patient relationship. The writer concludes that health care providers who provide specific or personal medical care or advice online must practice the principle of professionalism and should abide by their ethical codes of their profession just as they do for face-to-face interactions.

Outline:
Reasons Consumers/Providers use the Web for Medical Information
e-Health Ethics Organizations
Three Types of Web Sites
The Doctor Patient Relationship and e-Health
Conclusions

From the Paper:

"A provider that responds to email may face ethical and legal obligation. When physicians provide telephone consultations payment does not seem to be a factor in a doctor-patient relationship, but payment of a fee for online education or advice may be seen as acceptance of a doctor-patient relationship
"An important issue for a physician to avoid is a patient claim of abandonment. There is a protocol that a physician must follow to successfully terminate the patient-doctor relationship. Abandonment is defined as the act of a physician terminating a relationship at an unreasonable time and without giving the patient the chance to find an equally qualified replacement."

Sample of Sources Used:

• American Medical Association (2004, Dec 6). Young Physicians Section(YPS) Guidelines for Physician-Patient Electronic Communications. Retrieved October 30, 2007, from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/2386.html
• American Medical Association (2007, May 7). AMA(Legal Issues) Ending the patient-physician relationship. Retrieved October 30,2007, from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/4609.html
• Batten, M. (n.d). e-Patients Changing Doctor-Patient Relations. Retrieved October 30, 2007, from http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/epchandocrel.html
• Carrns, A. (2002, October 24). Online Doctor-Patient Consulting Shows Promise in California Study. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), D.8. Retrieved October 30,2007, from http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/pqdweb?did=219924691&sid=7&Fmt=3&clientild=13118&RQT=309&VName=PQD
• Kind , T. (2003, November). Does the "e" in e-Health stand for Ethics? Children's National Medical Center Pediatric Ethicsope, 14(2), 5.

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