Financial and commercial dealings

Financial arrangements with patients must be honest and open. Good practice means the practitioner: (a) does not exploit patients' vulnerability or lack of knowledge in providing or recommending services; (b) does not persuade patients to give, lend or leave money or gifts benefiting the practitioner directly or indirectly; (c) does not pressure patients to donate to others; (d) accepts no gifts from patients other than small tokens such as flowers or chocolates, and makes a file note or tells a colleague where possible when accepting one; (e) does not become financially involved with patients, for example through loans or investment schemes; and (f) is transparent in work-related financial and commercial matters, including with employers and insurers, declaring any material financial or commercial interest they or their family have in any aspect of the patient's care and any professional or financial interest in products or services endorsed or sold from the practice, without taking an unjustifiable profit from selling or endorsing it.

• Patient gifts register or file notes for token gifts accepted
• Disclosure notices of interests in products sold from the practice
• Pricing records for products sold showing a justifiable margin

• Loans or investments with patients
• Products sold from the practice with undisclosed commissions
• Bequests from patients not declared