One of my recent reflections was on the concept of professional boundaries and how we manage friends or family who seek medical advice. They may claim they are unable to get an appointment with their own GP. This can leave you in a sticky position where you are aware of the boundary but don't want to come across as sounding unhelpful or uncaring. I sometimes explain to those who may seek medical advice about the GMC's guidance, as a reason not to become involved in someone's care. The GMC's Good Medical Practice guide states "Wherever possible, you should avoid providing medical care to anyone with whom you have a close personal relationship." Of course this leaves open to debate the definition of "wherever possible". It may be difficult to know exactly where this boundary lies and whether you have stepped across it. Revalidation has certainly tightened up these boundaries but one could argue that the boundary is still not clearly defined.
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