When caring for those you love becomes a professional dilemma

+Summer Hiatus

When caring for those you love becomes a professional dilemma

Jim Vause 2015

Jim Vause

Kindness and compassion [Image: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash]
Jim Vause ponders rules on providing medical care for loved ones [Image: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash]

We are on our summer break and the editorial office is closed until 13 January. In the meantime, please enjoy our Summer Hiatus series, in which our journalists curate an eclectic mix from our news and clinical archives throughout the year, The Conversation and other publications we share content with. Please note the comment function has been turned off while we are away. Happy reading!

This article was first published online on 24 September.

From Barbara: Retired in Māpua, our emeritus GP Jim Vause ponders the ethical challenges doctors face when providing care to loved ones. He questions whether professional guidelines can adequately address the complexities of real life

Caring is a broad term. I care a lot about those close to me. It’s a basic human trait. Most mammals do it; even birds and bees do it Dear Medica