When Is It Okay to Date a Patient?
To the besotted poet, love is intoxicating, exasperating, invigorating. To the doctor, if the would-be paramour is a patient — it’s also unethical.
But, physician responses to Medscape’s 2012 ethics survey clearly indicate that many physicians aren’t willing to condemn every romance. When asked, “Is it ever acceptable to become involved in a romantic or sexual relationship with a patient?” more than two thirds (68%) of the 24,000 doctors who responded resoundingly say “no.”
In contrast, nearly one third are more nuanced in their view. Only a tiny minority (1%) give romance with current patients a green light, but a sizable share (22%) say that a romantic relationship with a former patient may be acceptable, as long as at least 6 months have passed since the professional relationship was terminated. Another 9% say the ethics depend on the situation.
Source: Shelly Reese, Medscape News [11/15/12]