In a message dated 97-08-19 15:46:38 EDT, (Dogwood Ridge) writes: > These are not children who have moved and come > back but who were for one reason or another unhappy with our office care in > the past. Am I obligated to see them? Is the transfer of records in > itself an end to my medical obligations when they show up in the ER and > list me as their pediatrician? Does anybody send a letter to the families > wishing them well and stating that with this transfer of records you will > no longer be available as their pediatrician? Surely this happens > elsewhere. I think that their request to transfer records should end the physician-patient relationship, and you should not be obligated to see them if they show up in the ER. We don't send letters to everyone who asks for records to be transferred--but we do if they've been belligerant, abusive to the staff, threatening to sue--it happens once in a while. We've had lots of patients transfer out because of insurance--they often come back when the insurance changes again, so it's best not to burn the bridges. Moshe Adler