Therapeutic Privilege Doctrine

Therapeutic Exception Doctrine

A doctrine that protects a doctor faced with a patient who may be too emotional or apprehensive to fully and logically assess his needs for a therapeutic intervention

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therapeutic privilege doctrine

Forensic medicine A doctrine that protects the physician faced with a Pt who may be too emotional or apprehensive to fully and logically assess his needs for a therapeutic intervention; such situations may arise in emergencies, advanced age, dementia; when possible, permission should be obtained from the nearest relative. See Good Samaritan laws. Cf Doctor-patient interaction, Informed consent, Paternalism.