Personal relationships

The practitioner recognises the conflicts, risks and complexities of caring for people in a close personal relationship (close friends, work colleagues, family), which can be inappropriate because objectivity may be lost, continuity of care may break, and either party may be put at risk. Where circumstances such as an emergency require it, the practitioner: (a) keeps adequate records; (b) maintains confidentiality; (c) carries out an adequate assessment; (d) obtains appropriate consent acknowledged by both; (e) does not let the relationship impair clinical judgement; (f) keeps the option of stopping care open at all times; and (g) refers the person where necessary or appropriate if care stops.

• Records of care given to family, friends or colleagues held to the same standard as other patients
• Consent note acknowledging the personal relationship
• Referral letter when care of a close contact was handed on

• Informal treatment or prescribing for family with no record
• Ongoing care of a relative that should have been referred