Can a doctor refuse to see you unless you have a physical exam first?

Answer:
A doctor would be able to justify his or her decision to refuse to see you without a physical exam first and it would likely be a good reason as well. The thing is that he/she would need to know your overall condition before treating whatever symptoms you're manifesting. You may find such a decision unreasonable but it really isn't. Many patients visit doctors for one complaint, only to find out that it is being caused by a different or bigger problem. Therefore, a thorough and competent doctor would want to do a physical exam first. There is also the issue of compliance. If a patient is going to tell the doctor what he/she needs to do and how or when it needs to be done, then that patient needs to see a doctor who will tolerate such non compliance. There are many who won't want to treat such patients because they will present other problems in the long run.

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If you haven't had a physical in over a year I'm sure they could. If you had one from a previous doctor have your medical records sent.

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A doctor who does not do at least the minimum physical exam when seeing a patient is not doing the patient any favor, and I would question the behavior of such a doctor.

When you go to a doctor with a complaint, which is assumed, there are routine things that are done such as vital signs (temp, BP, pulse, weight, review of meds you are on.) and then the doc should do other things especially based on your complaint, which of course are listening to your heart, lungs and bowel sounds if applicable, along with appropriate blood work. Without these things the doctor can't rule out immediately suspected problems. New patients also have to provide a medical history for the doctor. These findings are all used as a baseline when you are a patient and all doctors will usually insist on it for new patients or if you do not visit regularly.

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