BMJ  2006;333:1132 (2 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39042.529641.BE

Editorials

Sexual relationships between doctors and former patients

New guidance gets the balance right in stopping short of a complete ban

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In new guidance, the General Medical Council (GMC) has warned doctors to think long and hard before embarking on a sexual relationship with a former patient. It has not introduced a blanket ban, which might have been vulnerable to a human rights challenge, but it is far from permissive. The guidance says such a relationship "may be inappropriate irrespective of the length of time elapsed."¹ The guidance will not please everyone.

Consider the general practitioner in a remote rural practice. The edict could cast the shadow of inappropriate behaviour across any future partner he or she may meet. Surely the medical oath did not include a vow of chastity? Previously the GMC prohibited only relationships with current patients. So what of those relationships already under way? Are these now subject to suspicion? Should doctors in such relationships, as the guidance infers, discuss their relationships with a member of the GMC . . . [Full text of this article]

¹ Medical Ethics Department, British Medical Association, BMA House, London WC1 9JR

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Freshwater, G. (2006). Sexual relationships between doctors and former patients: Already guilty?. BMJ 333: 1272-1272 [Full text]  
• Jones, C. (2006). Sexual relationships between doctors and former patients: Dating patients. BMJ 333: 1272-1272 [Full text]  

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