What should physicians do before terminating a patient-physician relationship?

Before terminating a patient-physician relationship, it is essential for physicians to provide adequate notice to the patient. This process involves ensuring that the patient is informed in a timely manner about the termination, allowing them to seek alternative care if necessary. Providing adequate notice helps to maintain professionalism and demonstrates respect for the patient's continuity of care.

When physicians give notice, it not only adheres to legal and ethical obligations, but it also helps protect the physician from potential liability issues that may arise if there is a sudden termination without proper communication. This ensures that patients have an opportunity to discuss any concerns and potentially address issues that could lead to the termination of the relationship.

In addition, while referring to another provider can also be a responsible action, it should ideally occur in conjunction with providing notice. Sending a letter of termination alone lacks the human element of addressing the patient's needs and potentially discussing the reasons for the termination, which is a crucial aspect of the process. Ignoring a patient's concerns would violate the ethical duty of care and respect owed to the patient, making it an inappropriate choice. Therefore, providing adequate notice is a fundamental component in ensuring a respectful and responsible termination of the patient-physician relationship.