Today, as part of my daily reading I was presented with an article on patients giving holiday gifts to physicians.
About the only misgivings of the many examples cited and interview answers were gifts from psych patients.
Some of the listed gifts were rather large. One physician reported being given a house as a gift in a will.
Another reported an estate that granted him a yearly custom tailored designer suit for the rest of his life.
So, while this seems completely beyond the realm of EMS, let me point out...
Over the years patients have sent cards, pizza, food trays, and all manner of gifts to every EMS or Fire organization I have ever worked for. On a handful of occasions I have been offered cash (no small sums at that) which took more than great effort to refuse.
Recently a physician collegue of mine was presented with a cash gift and it took almost a personal insult to graciously refuse the offer.
When I was in Fire and EMS, it was considered ethically unacceptable to accept personal gifts. It was always related to me that it could be considered a bribe or a unwritten demand for more by the patient.
But physicians are permitted to accept gifts. As are lawyers.
How many of your departments' ever sent home-made cooking back to greatful patients or families? Christmas cookies?
Why is it unacceptable for EMS providers to accept personal gifts?
Have you ever accepted a personal gift?
What is your opinion on the matter?
About the only misgivings of the many examples cited and interview answers were gifts from psych patients.
Some of the listed gifts were rather large. One physician reported being given a house as a gift in a will.
Another reported an estate that granted him a yearly custom tailored designer suit for the rest of his life.
So, while this seems completely beyond the realm of EMS, let me point out...
Over the years patients have sent cards, pizza, food trays, and all manner of gifts to every EMS or Fire organization I have ever worked for. On a handful of occasions I have been offered cash (no small sums at that) which took more than great effort to refuse.
Recently a physician collegue of mine was presented with a cash gift and it took almost a personal insult to graciously refuse the offer.
When I was in Fire and EMS, it was considered ethically unacceptable to accept personal gifts. It was always related to me that it could be considered a bribe or a unwritten demand for more by the patient.
But physicians are permitted to accept gifts. As are lawyers.
How many of your departments' ever sent home-made cooking back to greatful patients or families? Christmas cookies?
Why is it unacceptable for EMS providers to accept personal gifts?
Have you ever accepted a personal gift?
What is your opinion on the matter?