Sunday, October 20, 2019

misconduct in medicine essays

misconduct in medicine essays 1. Definition of the ethics problem: What are the ethical implications of sexual or romantic relationships between physicians and patients and how should sexual misconduct be prevented and doctors disciplined? 2. Provide significant facts/uncertainties that are relevant to the question: Sexual contact between physician and patient can occur in numerous ways. Physicians may use the patients state of being as a way to engage in sexual activity or they may suggest or represent sexual contact to a patient as part of care or treatment for the patient. When a person seeks medical care, many times he or she is physically and emotionally vulnerable to the doctor. Therefore, it must be noted that several states specify that consent of the patient cannot be used as a defense to charges of sexual misconduct. Sexual contact with patients seems to occur most when there is great disparity between the social status and emotional vulnerability between physician and patient. This is why most reported cases of sexual misconduct involve patients who are younger and female, and doctors who are older and male. The patients in these cases trust that the doctor is acting in the best interest of them and even when sexual misconduct takes place, they are hesitant to report the doctors or even to try to stop the doctors themselves. The victims then experience distrust of their own judgment, experience guilt, and become skeptical of physicians. Most medical training programs and education do not cover the issue of sexual misconduct and how to deal with sexual or romantic attraction to patients. It would seem that it would be very beneficial to doctors to receive some sort of education with regards to dealing with the temptations and seeking appropriate help. Also, since many times it is actually the patient that is initially attracted to the doctor, it would be very helpful for the doctors to learn ways to deal with that so ...

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