What duties do doctors have toward their patients?
Doctors have many duties toward their patients. Their responsibilities cover their own actions, as well as orders they give to their assistants, such as nurses, medical students and residents.
These are a doctor's main duties:
Obligation to Diagnose and Treat Patients
In legal terms, doctors have an obligation of means toward their patients, not an obligation of result. This means that they have to take appropriate steps available to make the right diagnosis, provide treatment and follow-up on their patients' progress.
Doctors must base their actions on up-to-date scientific information and use recognized treatments in the right way.