COMLEX Ethics Level 2 Practice Test

Ensuring continuity of care is the key issue here. When a physician plans to retire, there’s an ethical obligation to avoid abandoning patients and to help them transition to another provider. Providing documentation at least 30 days in advance gives patients time to find a new clinician, arrange for transfer of records, and understand how their care will continue after the physician leaves. Written notice also supports proper handoffs, so urgent or ongoing needs aren’t left unmanaged. The notice should include practical details such as the retirement date, how patients can obtain copies of their records, and referrals or recommendations for alternative providers. In many professional guidelines, this level of advance notice is viewed as a reasonable standard to protect patient safety and autonomy.