A physician at a private practice has a significant financial interest in a local imaging center. When a patient requires an MRI, the physician refers them to this specific center. What is the physician's primary ethical and legal obligation to the patient in this situation?
Refer the patient to the center only if it is the sole provider in the area.
Sell their financial interest in the imaging center to avoid a conflict.
Disclose the financial interest to the patient before the patient makes a decision.
Keep the financial interest private to avoid influencing the patient's decision.
The correct answer is that the physician must disclose their financial conflict of interest to the patient. The physician-patient relationship is fiduciary, meaning it is based on trust, and the physician has an ethical and legal duty to act in the patient's best interest. The American Medical Association (AMA) states that physicians should disclose financial interests that could influence clinical care. This disclosure allows the patient to make a fully informed decision about their care, including where to receive services. Failing to disclose can undermine patient trust and may have legal consequences. While the center may be a good choice, and the physician is not required to use a different provider, the primary obligation is transparency. Keeping the interest private is unethical.
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