Can doctor refuse to take on a new patient?

Can a GP refuse to take on a new patient?

As a general rule, doctors should not refuse to treat someone without reason and must not do so for ‘discriminatory’ reasons, such as their race.

They also must not refuse to treat someone whose life is at risk or who is unbearable pain. However, they are permitted to refuse for personal or professional reasons – if he or she does not get on with the person, for example, or if the patient has behaved aggressively, or, for example if the doctor simply feels they do not have the right expertise for their condition.

They can also refuse simply because they have too many other patients that day.

Doctors are, moreover, under no obligation to take on a new patient as their médecin traitant, just as a patient is not obliged to choose a certain doctor for this role. Either party can also decide in future to end the arrangement if they wish.

If you are struggling to find a suitable doctor in your area then the first port of call if one exists in your area is to ask for help from an organisation coordonnée territoriale (coordinated territoral organisation), which can take one of several forms, such as an interdisciplinary clinic or health centre, or a local primary care team.

See if such groups exist where you live at the bottom of this website under the heading Près de chez vous.

In the first instance, if you need help from a doctor, such a group will help to find one you can consult, whether in person or over the internet. However, they can also help to look for a médecin traitant who can take you on.

In the absence of such groups, your local Cpam may be able to help.

Note that a médecin traitant does not strictly have to be a general practitioner in your local area – it can be a hospital doctor, specialist, or even a doctor you see online.

In an emergency, a doctor must do what they can to provide care, both under their professional ethical rules and the general French law relating to the obligation to help a person in distress.

Article 47 of the code of Medical Ethics stipulates that “continuity of care for patients must be ensured,” and therefore those needing emergency help cannot be refused, even if the doctor is not their médecin traitant.

In most cases, however, you would seek immediate professional help by calling the emergency services on 15. Alternatively, if you call 116 117 you will be put in touch with a team of volunteer GPs who will help you find an on-call doctor in your area.