Caring for Colleagues and Loved Ones With Cancer

Throughout the arc of a career in medicine, physicians are universally faced with the difficult decision of when to provide care for a colleague and when to refer to another physician. Gauging the magnitude of your relationship, both professionally and personally, and then weighing how to add the roles of physician and patient to your preexisting relationship is complex. We review and discuss care of family and colleagues, address ethical boundaries both firm and flexible, and explore the emotional weight of those relationships.