When someone becomes a medical practitioner - “doctor” for the purposes here, there is a social license that comes with the job. That you are obliged to give medical assistance, when requested of you. In fact it is ethically wrong to refuse assistance and you may be formally called to account if you don’t.
There are many outs of that clause. For example : too far away, physically or mentally incapable - too tired / unwell or just imbibed a bottle of red, or you know someone else is officially on call.
The injunction is strong however.
So the community does not expects a Dr walking down to street to be permanently on call with the phone on for stuff like that, but when called upon be prepared to assist or find some who can.
Not so long ago, a country GP was travelling along a country road. She though a car passing her crashed. Didn’t stop but drove into town to report it. After a while the cops reported her to the medical board for not stopping and checking. She was reprimanded for not stopping and checking to see if medical assistance was required.
And what if any financial or other beneficial consideration . Always been nil.
Did you know there is no Medicare rebate for doing CPR or otherwise rendering medical assistance at an emergency?. At most you could charge a consultation fee but you wouldn’t because it’s not worth the effort and raises legal liability rather than Good Samaritan protection
Does that ethical injunction stop at the aircraft door - no.
As for me. I always book as Mr.
If they ask I will assist
Here is the GP story:
Thank you to my colleague, Ruth Townsend, for bringing the case of Dr Dekker to my attention. On 27 April 2002, Dr Dekker was driving near Roebourne in Western Australia. Around 6.30pm on a dark ni…
emergencylaw.wordpress.com
Hippo oath?. Never took it