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Family Practice Vol. 18, No. 5, 511-515
© Oxford University Press 2001

The consultation

Sexualization of the doctor–patient relationship: is it ever ethically permissible?

Katherine H Hall

Department of General Practice, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Whilst having sexual relationships with current patients is clearly unethical, the ethics of such a relationship between a doctor and former patient is more debatable. In this review of the current evidence, based on major articles listed in Medline and Bioethicsline in the past 15 years, the argument is made here that such relationships are almost always unethical due to the persistence of transference, the unequal power distribution in the original doctor–patient relationship and the ethical implications that arise from both these factors especially with respect to the patient's autonomy and ability to consent, even when a former patient. Only in very particular circumstances could such relationships be ethically permissible.

Keywords. Morality, physician, patient relationship, sex offences, social dominance, standards.


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