Physicians treating their own spouses: relationship of physicians to their own family's health care.

Fifty-one family physicians and a comparable group of 65 lawyers were surveyed to determine how each group treated the medical problems of their spouses. There was no significant difference between physician and lawyer controls in the treatment of headaches, sore throats, vomiting, depression, pregnancy, and warts. In fact, the controls treated back pain and stomachaches more often. The physicians treated earaches and deep lacerations more often. The physicians more frequently took a symptom history and examined their spouse. Both groups treated their spouses' headaches, sore throats, and stomachaches at a high rate. This study supports the impression from a literature review and case studies that unique multiple interacting factors determine whether a physician will treat his or her spouse. These factors are feeling of responsibility to answer a request for treatment, cost, convenience, confidentiality, lack of confidence, emotional involvement or detachment, ego needs, and legal considerations. It is concluded that (1) physicians do not generally treat their spouses more often, but they do evaluate their spouses' symptoms more often than do nonphysicians, and (2) the decision to treat by the physician may compromise good care for his or her spouse. It is recommended that physicians and their spouses have an alternative, nonrelated physician to care for their health.