Yes, they can. There are no laws that prevent a doctor from being friends with patients, whether it's a current or a past patient. Many patients even use physicians who are already a personal friend.
I don't see any problem with continueing friendship with a former patient others do this all the time.
a former governor general and medical doctor
Morally and thically, probably at least a year or more, but I think that if two people find each other, who's to say where or when. I say that the doctor should write a formal letter discontinuing the patient as a patient, put it in the file and get on with your love.
I was told only aafter 7 years. Though this seems unusually long. I heard this through a friend who is married to s adoctor, but she is a phychiatrist so it may only apply to that situation. I was told only aafter 7 years. Though this seems unusually long. I heard this through a friend who is married to s adoctor, but she is a phychiatrist so it may only apply to that situation.
Yes, he was found guilty in a trial by jury 11/11/13 for gross negligence in the death of a former patient.
Yes.
To end a person's suffering. It's an ethical dilemma that tears the medical community on it's head, because there's no cure for many conditions (usually cancer) and terminal patients often die in a massive amount of pain. The conundrum is that the doctor has an obligation to help, and not harm, the patient. Some see ending the suffering as helping and humane and some see killing the patient as harmful, by definition, in all circumstances. Euthanasia is when the doctor intentionally causes the death of the patient. This is not the same as giving doses of medication with the aim of relieving suffering that runs a risk of killing the patient. The former is generally illegal while the latter is not. The distinction is one of intent (whether killing the patient was the goal or just an acceptable risk). Physician assisted suicide is when a doctor prescribes a medication to a patient for the purpose of ending the patient's life but allows the patient to administer it to themselves. It can be just a prescription for pills or go as far as starting an IV for them. Most places do not draw a distinction between that an euthanasia (in both cases the intent is to kill the patient) and so ban it.
ask them out
No. An employee, whether current or former, cannot use your medical record without your consent.
You would typically address a former governor who is also a doctor as "Dr. [Last Name]" in formal situations, acknowledging their medical credentials. In a more casual setting, you might refer to them as "Governor [Last Name]" to honor their previous role. If you are uncertain about their preference, it is always polite to ask how they would like to be addressed.
more than likely if they tried
Here is the American Medical Association policy: "At a minimum, a physician's ethical duties include terminating the physician-patient relationship before initiating a dating, romantic, or sexual relationship with a patient."