A five-year follow up of doctors treating relatives and themselves

Abstract

Studies show high rates of physicians believing that they should treat relatives and themselves In this study, we compared such attitudes in surveys conducted in 2017 and 2012 among similar populations of physicians who attended Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and OB/ GYN Grand Rounds. Fewer respondents in 2017 prescribed medications to relatives without an examination. Similar numbers of residents and faculty in both years believed they should treat their relatives. Fifty-nine percent treated relatives for minor illnesses, a significant decrease from 75.3% in 2012. About half of physicians treated themselves for minor illnesses in both years. Although 73% of current respondents had a primary care physician (PCP), a significantly higher proportion of men had PCPs (p-0.04) in 2017 in contrast to a significantly higher proportion of women in 2012 (p=0.01). The overall frequency of residents and faculty physicians who treat relatives and themselves decreased in the past five years and less treat without examination. However, too many physicians continue this practice, despite the ethical admonitions of the AMA and ACP. More education is required to convince physicians not to treat relatives and themselves. Further research is needed to determine why men now have PCPs more often than women.