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Medic Falls For Patient...dilemma
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Say a senior medic wants to date one of his patients - under what circumstances is this possible (ethically)?
Patient leaves and goes to be treated elsewhere? Could he date her then?
Would the medic have to make his employers aware?
Anyone know what the rules are regarding this? Thank you.
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Professional boundaries at risk I feel if medic continues to treat the patient.
Its no big deal in the grand scheme of things and I bet lots of this happens in secret all the time -but I dont know how they get around it as the cat will be out of the bag at some point or they get found out.
Same situation if a solicitor wants to date a client but that might be trickier as client could be criminal & could have career implications! Could be interesting thought! and I wonder what they do.
Professional boundaries at risk I feel if medic continues to treat the patient.
Its no big deal in the grand scheme of things and I bet lots of this happens in secret all the time -but I dont know how they get around it as the cat will be out of the bag at some point or they get found out.
Same situation if a solicitor wants to date a client but that might be trickier as client could be criminal & could have career implications! Could be interesting thought! and I wonder what they do.
the General Medical Council is clear on this: 'You must not use your professional position to pursue a sexual or improper emotional relationship with a patient or someone close to them.' [http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/respect_patients.asp]
The British Medical Association have additional advice on this:
http:// bma.org .uk/-/m edia/Fi les/PDF s/Pract ical%20 advice% 20at%20 work/Et hics/Me dical%2 0Ethics %20Toda y/updat echapte r1june2 013.pdf
Doctors must not drop a patient in order to pursue a relationship with them.
Some medics (psychiatrists, paediatricians) whose patients are considered vulnerable should not embark on a relationship with a patient.
However, if the patient decides to see a different doctor, it seems this breaks the professional obligations.
Of course if your friend is not a doctor he won't be regulated by the GMC anyway...
The British Medical Association have additional advice on this:
http://
Doctors must not drop a patient in order to pursue a relationship with them.
Some medics (psychiatrists, paediatricians) whose patients are considered vulnerable should not embark on a relationship with a patient.
However, if the patient decides to see a different doctor, it seems this breaks the professional obligations.
Of course if your friend is not a doctor he won't be regulated by the GMC anyway...
-- answer removed --
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