THE PSYCHIATRIST LOOKS AT PROFESSIONAL COURTESY
ALFRED AUERBACK M.D.1
1 Assoc. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Univ. of Calif. Medical School, San Francisco, Calif.
In treating a physician or a member of his family the psychiatrist should decide the basis for extending professional courtesy (no fee or reduced charge) upon the specific circumstances of the individual case. Generally psychiatrists do not charge for the diagnostic workup or for short term therapy. If long term therapy is indicated the matter should be discussed and a mutual agreement reached before undertaking treatment. In many cases prolonged treatment without charge may be conducive to poor therapeutic results owing to negative feelings in both the patient and therapist.
Professional courtesy may be a barrier to good medical treatment, in many cases causing delay in seeking medical help and producing negative feelings on the part of the patient and the treating physician. Insurance coverage for medical care would permit an adequate recompense being given without embarrassment to either party.
The present philosophy of the AMA that physicians are unethical if they charge other physicians or their families is not in keeping with present day practices. The doctor-patient relationship is impaired and frequently good medical care does not result. While the extension of professional courtesy reflects the best traditions of medical practice, physicians should be permitted to extend it by choice rather than by fiat.
