Which of the following is NOT one of the six functions of the doctrine of the patient/practitioner relationship?

• A. Protects individual autonomy
• B. Protects patient's status as a human being
• C. Avoids fraud and duress
• D. Maintains hospital revenue

Answer: (D)

The patient/practitioner relationship is centered on protecting the patient and ensuring ethical, trustworthy care. Its functions emphasize things like honoring patient autonomy, recognizing each person’s inherent dignity, preventing coercion or deceit, and safeguarding confidentiality and trust within the care bond. These duties exist to empower the patient, ensure voluntary and informed participation in care, and keep the interaction honest and respectful.

Maintaining hospital revenue does not pertain to those protective and ethical obligations. It’s a financial outcome related to the operation of the healthcare system, not a duty that arises from the patient-practitioner relationship itself. So, among the options, the one about hospital revenue does not fit as a function of this doctrine, whereas autonomy, dignity, and avoiding fraud or duress are aligned with the patient-centered protections the relationship is built to uphold.