CPSO’s Board of Directors has approved the newly titled Treatment of Self, Family Members and Others Close to You policy, which sets out expectations for physicians on when it is appropriate to treat themselves and people close to them, including family members. 

The policy has been updated to respond to current access to care challenges in Ontario. Recognizing the unique considerations of physicians working in smaller communities, the policy enables physicians to provide care beyond emergency treatment and treatment of minor conditions to people close to them in communities with limited treatment options, including Indigenous communities.

The new policy also no longer requires that a physician only provide treatment for minor conditions or emergency treatment to those close to them when no other qualified health-care professional is readily available. However, physicians may not provide ongoing episodic care and are still expected to transfer care to another health-care provider if additional treatment is necessary.  

The accompanying Advice to the Profession companion document provides guidance in meeting the policy expectations, including: 

• the ways in which a personal relationship can reasonably affect a physician’s judgment; 
• how to manage situations where the physician feels pressure to provide treatment where doing so may not be appropriate; and 
• the policy’s application in Indigenous communities. 

Finally, a separate Legal Requirements document was developed clarify physicians’ legal obligations with regards to treating spouses and other romantic partners.