Council has become increasingly concerned regarding the practice of some consultants in failing to report back to the referring physician, or to delay doing so by several months. Council does not feel a specific policy on the matter is necessary, but physicians are reminded of the risks involved in such practice. Communication with a referring physician is an integral part of the consultative process. Potential risks to patient care of such delayed communication are obvious. Furthermore, should the consultant claim for a full consultation before reporting to the referring physician, there is a risk of breaching College regulations, which preclude billing for a service not performed. Council hopes that recognizing these issues, as well as a sense of common professional courtesy, will reduce this problem.
6/04
