Physician-Patient Contract

Furrow et al. (2013) noted the physician-patient relationship is primarily an implied contract because a written contract is not standard practice for delivery of health care. According to O’Connor (2010), the basis for medical negligence for physicians, is the physician-patient relationship, which can become a contractual relationship if all elements of a contract are present including an offer, an acceptance, and consideration. For example, when a patient contacts a doctor’s office for an evaluation and treatment of a health issue, that initial contact is considered the patient’s offer for treatment. For the second element of a contract, the doctor has the option to accept or reject the offer and refuse to consult the patient. However,