Do physicians have to provide their patients with access to care 24-hours a day, seven days a week?
The College recognizes that providing round-the-clock coverage for patient care can be problematic. However, physicians do have a social and an ethical obligation to look after their patients on a 24-hour basis and should make the necessary arrangements to ensure that alternate medical care is available even if their office or clinic is closed. Arrangements should be “bilateral” and if patients are referred to other clinics or physicians at hospitals, those physicians should have agreed to accept that responsibility. Arranging an on-call schedule with colleagues is the recommended best practice.
