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Choices for Patients and Clinicians: Ethics and Legal Issues

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Addressing Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Primary Care

Abstract

Physicians deal with legal issues regarding patient safety and confidentiality on a regular basis, and these can be challenging when patients have problems related to alcohol. Ethical issues arise when there are conflicts between principles of patient autonomy, physician beneficence, and justice that may relate to both public safety and individual health. Legal concerns often relate to privacy and confidentiality and vary from state to state. This chapter addresses some common legal and ethical issues that may be encountered in primary care when addressing issues related to alcohol use or its consequences.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 23298-0109, Richmond, VA, USA

    Michael Weaver FASAM

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  1. Michael Weaver FASAM
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Correspondence to Michael Weaver FASAM .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor 801, Boston, 02118-2335, Massachusetts, USA

    Richard Saitz

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Weaver, M. (2013). Choices for Patients and Clinicians: Ethics and Legal Issues. In: Saitz, R. (eds) Addressing Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Primary Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4779-5_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4779-5_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-4778-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-4779-5

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