Video: Your doctor could fire you

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SEATTLE – Many people fear getting fired at work. Now, some doctors are firing patients by refusing to treat them.

"Fire a patient? Dismiss a patient? Yes, I have. For sure," said gynecologist Dr. Edward Szmuc.

He says it's usually due to a combination of reasons such as patients listening to their cell phones when the doctor is talking, being uncooperative or insisting on a certain medication.

Then there's always refusing to pay.

"Non-payment. That would include putting ... not considering the medical advice you think is reasonable. Patients can be verbally abusive," said Szmuc.

Doctors appreciate patience like Maggie Lam. She's on time, asks questions, does research without bombarding the doctor with information from the internet and she takes her doctor's advice.

"Be good and follow his instructions and just do what he says," said Lam.

But is it ethical to fire patients?

According to the American Medical Association's guidelines, doctors have "an obligation to support continuity of care for their patients" and "should not neglect a patient." But if a doctor must end the relationship, they have to provide enough notice so the patient can secure another health care provider.

Doctor Szmuc says, on average, he has to fire a patient about once every couple of years.

Of course, it works both ways. Patients can also fire their doctors.