A generation ago, offering a professional courtesy — the notion of extending extra privileges such as providing advice or free healthcare to doctor-patients and their families — was probably unquestioned.

The small favours, the extra appointment a neurologist squeezes in for a medical colleague, and the reduced fees were commonplace.

But we live in different times where the ethics can get complicated.

The topic was raised last week by Melbourne oncologist Dr Ranjana Srivastava, who explored the times she had leant on colleagues when her family were sick.