Legal Term Sought

[AZ Jeff]

In the past couple of years, there have been threads here and TFL about when family doctors start counseling their patients on the "health risks" of owning firearms.

Several times, there has been reference to the legal pitfalls a doctor might encounter by doing so. The term escapes me, but has something to do with "professional boundaries".

Can anyone refresh my memory on what the legal term is for the risks of giving out advice in an professional area for which one is not trained?

 

[R.H. Lee]

'Boundary violation'?

 

[Rockstar]

This is an easy one! It's "doctorus stupiditus"!!!!

 

[AZ Jeff]

Boundary violation

THANK YOU!!! That was the term I was seeking.

 

[El Tejon]

Potential malpractice.

 

[GhostRider66]

Not sure but the appropriate legal response is "****" I believe.

 

[another okie]

"Boundary violation" is probably what you are looking for, but it is a very strong word. Do not use it to a doctor unless you are ready to find another doctor.

 

[Tory]

Here's another one:

"Officious intermeddler"

NOT a class looked upon with favor by the law.

 

[CAnnoneer]

To be fair, we need to make a distinction between purely medical concerns and political concerns.

If a physician talks to the patient about how guns are evil and so dangerous that nobody should have one at home, that is clearly "boundary violation."

If a physician talks about the risks of gradual lead poisoning by handling ammunition in an unsafe way, or about shooting in poorly ventilated ranges where exhaust gases containing sulphurous oxides, lead oxides, etc, tend to settle, then it is okay. Still, I think regular smoking and alcohol are probably at least a hundred times more damaging than a closed range a couple times a month. Along the same line of thought, physicians then should also discuss the dangers of living in smoggy environments, such as most metropolitan areas

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Not sure if it's strictly a legal term but I think what you have in mind is "area of professional expertise." That's what says that a mechanical engineer isn't supposed to put his seal and signature on complex electrical designs, for example, or that orthopeadic surgeons probably should not be undertaking heart transplants.