decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2021 Issue 9 (September)
Refusing care to the unvaccinated a potential legal and ethical pitfall
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article examines a health care policy issue that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic: whether providers can or should refuse treatment to unvaccinated patients. It summarizes legal perspectives, ethical concerns, anti-discrimination considerations, and reputational risks, and it is most relevant to physicians, practice managers, and health law professionals looking for guidance on provider-patient relationships and patient access to care.
Why This Topic Matters
Policies affecting patient acceptance and continuity of care can create legal exposure, ethical concerns, and operational challenges for medical practices. Understanding the broad risks and professional considerations helps practices evaluate how pandemic-era vaccination policies may affect patient relationships, access, and trust.
Article Sections
-
COVID-19
An overview of the article’s focus on pandemic-related patient access decisions and the broader context for provider policy concerns.
-
Akin to ‘firing’ a patient
Discussion of the legal framing around ending a provider-patient relationship and the related concerns raised by refusal policies.
-
Urging caution
Professional and ethical cautionary perspectives on exclusion policies, including discrimination, reputation, and patient trust considerations.
-
Watch rights, ethics violations
Potential civil rights, regulatory, and ethics-related risks associated with treating patients differently based on vaccination status.
What You Will Learn
- The broad legal and ethical issues surrounding patient refusal policies during the COVID-19 era.
- How provider-patient relationship decisions can raise concerns about access, continuity, and trust.
- What types of professional and regulatory risks may be associated with vaccination-based exclusions.
- Why health care organizations may need to consider less restrictive alternatives when addressing patient safety concerns.
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Medical practice managers
- Health care administrators
- Health care attorneys
- Compliance professionals
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com