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A patient with a potential post-operative complication should not be terminated until the complication is resolved.

Although 30 days’ notice will be considered reasonable in most cases, ethical concerns can require a longer period. For example, physicians pledge to “do no harm” and also have an obligation to place patients’ welfare above their own interests.* Balancing patient and physician interests can get tricky when it will be difficult for the patient to find a new physician.

Terminating treatment of a chronic pain patient can become complicated, even when a patient agreement is signed and the termination letter is sent.¹

Terminating treatment of a behavioral health patient can be challenging, particularly when the patient’s behavioral well-being is dependent on the medications you are prescribing and the therapy you are providing.*

A radiologist is an inevitable defendant in a medical malpractice lawsuit involving a radiology “miss,” but any physician who fails to communicate or act on a critical radiological finding is also a potential defendant.