evidence: - What is the nature of the physician’s practice and patient population? If an unvaccinated patient would pose significant risk to other patients in the practice—for example, if physician’s patients are immune-compromised or cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, it may be ethically justifiable to refuse an unvaccinated individual, the more so the greater the risk of severe disease for other patients in the practice. Likewise, physicians may decline a patient if meeting the individual’s medical needs would "seriously compromise" the physician’s ability to provide care needed by their other patients (Opinion 1.1.2). - Beyond robust practice-wide infection control efforts, can accommodation be made to minimize the risk an unvaccinated patient may pose to other patients and staff? For example, can unvaccinated and possibly infectious patients be seen in a dedicated examination room? Or at dedicated times only? Or have tested negative for COVID as a condition for receiving care? Can care reasonably be provided via telemedicine? (In keeping with guidance in Opinion 1.2.12.) [...] - Can the patient be persuaded to accept vaccination? When an unvaccinated patient presents for care, physicians (or other appropriate staff) have an opportunity to explore with the patient why they are not vaccinated, respectfully acknowledge and address their concerns and seek to persuade them to accept vaccination to protect themselves and others.