Romantic or sexual relationships with patients and key third parties
- Scenario 1: A patient’s mother expresses romantic interest in you and invites you to lunch.
- Approach
- Never enter a romantic relationship with a current patient or key third parties (i.e., those involved in patient decision-making and care).
- Set firm boundaries and avoid unnecessary contact.
- Ask specific, close-ended questions.
- Use a chaperone if necessary.
- Consider transitioning care to another clinician
- Scenario 2: A patient makes a sexually inappropriate comment during genital examination.
- Approach
- Inform the patient politely and directly that their comment is inappropriate.
- Request the presence of a chaperone.
- Ask only direct, close-ended questions.
- Perform only medically necessary portions of the examination to minimize contact.