POSITION STATEMENT ON PHYSICIANS' SELF-TREATMENT OR TREATMENT OF IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS1
Physicians generally should not treat themselves or members of their immediate families. Treatment in this scenario includes the prescribing of medications. When the patient is an immediate family member, the physician's personal feelings may unduly influence his or her professional medical judgment. Or the physician may fail to probe sensitive areas when taking the medical history or to perform intimate parts of the physical examination. Physicians may feel obligated to provide care for family members despite feeling uncomfortable doing so. They may also be inclined to treat problems that are beyond their expertise or training.
Similarly, patients may feel uncomfortable receiving care from a family member. A patient may be reluctant to disclose sensitive information or undergo an intimate examination when the physician is an immediate family member. This discomfort may particularly be the case when the patient is a minor child, who may not feel free to refuse care from a parent.
In general, physicians should not treat themselves or members of their own families. However, it may be acceptable to treat/prescribe in limited circumstances:
(a) In emergency settings or isolated settings where there is no other qualified physician available. In such situations, physicians should not hesitate to treat themselves or family members until another physician becomes available.
(b) For short-term, minor problems.
When treating self or family members, physicians have a further responsibility to:
(c) Document treatment or care provided and convey relevant information to the patient's primary care physician.
(d) Recognize that if tensions develop in the professional relationship with a family member, perhaps as a result of a negative medical outcome, such difficulties may be carried over into the family member's personal relationship with the physician.
(e) Avoid providing sensitive or intimate care especially for a minor patient who is uncomfortable being treated by a family member.
(f) Recognize that family members may be reluctant to state their preference for another physician or decline a recommendation for fear of offending the physician. 2
It is unprofessional conduct for a licensee initially to prescribe drugs to an individual without first establishing a proper physician-patient relationship. South Carolina Code § 40-47-113.
A practitioner cannot usually acquire a valid physician/patient relationship with himself or herself nor with a member of his or her immediate family for the purpose of prescribing controlled substances, due to the loss of objectivity in making the proper medical decisions.
The Board believes that prescribing controlled substances for family members is outside the scope of good medical practice in South Carolina except for a bona fide emergency situation where the health and safety of an individual may be at great detriment. A practitioner may prescribe only very limited amounts of controlled substances until such time as another objective practitioner can be contacted.
Appropriate records should be maintained for written prescriptions and/or administration of any Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substance.
[1] The Board is authorized to "publish advisory opinions and position statements relating to practice procedures or policies authorized or acquiesced to by any agency, facility, institution, or other organization that employs persons authorized to practice under this chapter to comply with acceptable standards of practice." S.C. Code Ann. § 40-47-10(I)(1).
[2] AMA Code of Medical Ethics Opinion 1.2.1