Article Figures & Data
Tables
- Table 1
Considerations in Deciding Course of Action After Receiving Unsolicited Email From an Unknown Person
Determine whether the sender's identify can be verified. Could it be a person other than who the sender claims to be? Potential for creation of doctor–patient relationship with duty of care if you reply, despite lack of ability to examine or obtain collateral information in a potentially complex case Licensing and malpractice concerns if sender is not in state Potential for the e-mailer to misinterpret your response False expectations: potential for lack of appropriate action by e-mailer because he believes that he is following psychiatric advice, or alternatively, because he is waiting for a reply from the psychiatrist - Table 2
Potential Decisions Regarding Response to Unsolicited E-mail From an Unknown Person
Maintain a high junk-mail filter so as to avoid knowing that e-mails have been received Do not open e-mails from unknown senders as a matter of policy Set an automatic reply that unsolicited e-mails are not read or replied to Read e-mail, but choose not to reply for various reasons Read e-mail, acknowledge by thanking sender, politely stating that you are unable to assist and declining further contact Read e-mail, give general reply and clarify that there is not a doctor–patient relationship and that you are unable to provide medical advice; encourage sender to seek help in sender's own area; and record your course of action
