Damned if you treat, damned if you don’t
The UK Government recognised the need for standardisation in the adventure travel market in this year’s BS8848 document, covering the need to provide medical support by a recognised medical practitioner. All was well until the implications of providing medical cover to Americans, among others, was highlighted.
Defence unions advise that although doctors are covered to treat Americans, they are not covered for court cases that arise in North America (Americans can sue a doctor there, independent of where the treatment occurred). The General Medical Council advises doctors not to participate in activities without appropriate cover.
However, if a doctor does not treat an American on an expedition, the American participant can sue for racial discrimination and report the doctor to the GMC for improper conduct.
Source: Sean T Hudson, Medical Director, Expedition Medicine (sean@expeditionmedicine.co.uk) in a letter to the BMJ.