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Medical advice is the giving of a formal professional opinion regarding what a specific individual should or should not do to restore or preserve health. Typically, medical advice involves giving a diagnosis, prescribing a treatment for medical condition.^[1]

Medical advice is given in the context of a doctor-patient relationship. A licensed healthcare professional can be held legally liable for the advice he or she gives to a patient. Giving bad advice may be considered medical malpractice under specified circumstances.

Medical advice can be distinguished from medical information, which is the relation of facts. Discussing facts and information is considered a fundamental free speech right and is not considered medical advice. Medical advice can also be distinguished from personal advice, even if the advice concerns medical care.

[edit] See also

• Physician
• Against medical advice
• Duty of care
• Standard of care
• Scope of practice
• Medical direction
• Legal advice

[edit] References

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