Sexual Misconduct in the Practice of Medicine

ABSTRACT

There is a long-standing consensus within the medical profession that sexual contact or sexual relations between doctors and patients are unethical. Current ethical thought uniformly condemns sexual relations between patients and doctors. The ban on doctor-patient sexual contact is based on the recognition that such contact jeopardises patients' medical care. A number of studies in the Western World have tried to establish the incidence of doctor-patient sexual contact. Much of the research done on the prevalence of doctor-patient sexual contact is based on studies that survey doctors about their own behaviour. The general stigma attached to sexual contact with patients and the professional repercurssions that many researchers to beleive that the occurrence of patient-doctor sexual contact is under-reported. One the local scene no study has ever been conducted on the subject; however; an ecdotal tales reveal that the problem exists. Available studies from eleswhere show that between 5and 10of doctors engage in sexual contact with patients