The consent process is the non-delegable duty of the physician. Take these steps to eliminate the “You never told me...” or “If I had only known...” allegations often heard when there are less than optimal treatment outcomes.

The responsibility of a specialist to make a referral to another specialist — or instead rely on the primary care physician — will depend on a number of variables. But at the very least, the medical record on the issue should avoid ambiguity.

If tempted to pursue an alternate treatment plan based on a patient’s financial situation, a physician should assess whether such a consideration might be clouding his or her clinical medical judgment.

Physicians — and their patients — are justifiably frustrated when delays in getting financial authority interfere with the timely provision of medical services. But health care providers need to be careful that they do not become part of the delay.

The California Court of Appeal has found that a health care provider may be disciplined for failing to return phone calls during a critical period following a procedure.