Portal Login:
  • Clients
  • Providers
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
    Portal Login:
  • Clients
  • Providers
  • About MCN
  • Careers
  • MCNTalk
  • Contact Us

MCN | Medical Consultants Network

The Power of a Second Look

  • Services
    • Independent Medical Examinations
    • Medical Peer Reviews
    • Bill Review Services
    • Utilization Reviews
  • Expertise
    • Short and Long-Term Disability
    • Workers’ Compensation
    • Auto/PIP/Casualty/Liability
    • Independent Review Organization Services
  • For Clients
  • For Providers
  • Your Exam
    • About Your Exam
    • About Your External Review
    • Contact & Scheduling
  • Schedule Now
  • About MCN
  • MCNTalk
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

MCNTalk
News, Insights & Opinions

Home / MCNTalk / Random Acts of Kindness, or Crossing Boundaries?

February 17, 2014

Random Acts of Kindness, or Crossing Boundaries?

This interesting column by Abigail Zuger MD, addresses divergent views on patient/professional boundaries. She outlines a challenge but does not answer it: when if ever is it OK to engage in the outside lives of our patients? Perhaps a good way to frame the answer is to be able to ask one’s self as a physician whose interests are being served? If it is truly the patient’s, one may perhaps breathe a sigh of relief and proceed. But how many have the capacity of introspection and self-knowledge to know whose interests are truly being served? And how many physicians’ cloudy thinking about helping their patients by gratifying immediate wishes or needs, are actually mistreating patients by for example, prescribing narcotics inappropriately, thoughtlessly filling out forms endorsing disability or other entitlements upon request, and other actions that cheapen the profession and hurt patients.

Boundary breeches are fraught with hazards. Thus they are generally engaged in by the naive, the scoundrels, or the saints. Sadly, many a scoundrel thinks their actions are that of the saint.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • More
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Print

Tagged: Health Policy, Sociology and Language of Medicine, The Practice of Medicine Leave a Comment

Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Quality Divide: What Makes a Quality IME Physician?
  • The Quality Divide: Is Your Vendor Driving IME Excellence?
  • The Quality Divide: When and How to Request an IME?
  • April Clinic Calendars Are Available
  • MCN’s Client Portal Login Page is Changing

Archives

Footer


  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Quick Links

  • Services
  • Expertise
  • About MCN
  • Careers

Division Headquarters

MCN
1200 5th Ave., Ste. 650
Seattle, WA 98101

See all offices

Email Us

General Inquiries: info@mcn.com
Sales & Marketing: marketing@mcn.com

Call Us

206.343.6100
800.248.6269

© Copyright 2023 Mitchell International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap