physician-patient relationship

physician-patient relationship

Medical malpractice A formal or inferred relationship between a physician and a Pt, which is established once the physician assumes or undertakes the medical care or treatment of a Pt; the establishment of a PPR is 'automatic' in certain situations–eg, in the physician's private office, but in others–eg, physical exam as a health screening procedure, it cannot be assumed to exist. See Abandonment, Doctor-Pt interaction.