“See your primary care doctor” isn’t good enough advice anymore, since not all patients have one, or will follow-up on their own.
A workers’ compensation physician noted a markedly elevated ferritin level, and was successfully sued for missing hemochromatosis. He had told the patient to follow up with his primary care doctor.
The same scenario could easily happen in the emergency or specialist setting. Actually making the appointment and documenting such efforts probably will mark the new standard of care in these cases.
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Three questions:
1. Why was a workman’s comp doc drawing a ferritin level?
2. Workman’s comp. insurance does pay for non-work related illnesses. Where do we draw the line between workman’s comp and primary care?
2. At what point are patients expected (by a group of their peers) to accept personal responsibility for the choice to follow or ignore a physician’s advice?