Doctors aren't allowed to have sexual relations with their patients, but what if the patient was the doctor's spouse?
Doctors aren't allowed to have sexual relations with their patients, but what if the patient was the doctor's spouse?
Does that rule only apply when they're on the clock? Are doctors even allowed to treat their own family members? If a doctor got intimate with his wife after treating her, could she sue him?
From the American Medical Association (and many other countries have similar guidelines): "In general, physicians should not treat themselves or members of their own families. However, it may be acceptable to do so in limited circumstances:
- In emergency settings or isolated settings where there is no other qualified physician available. In such situations, physicians should not hesitate to treat themselves or family members until another physician becomes available.
- For short-term, minor problems."
As others have pointed out, there are rules against treating family/spouse. I’d imagine there are stories of patients and clinicians falling for each other, in which case the ethical move would be to transition care to another provider as soon as possible.
Here’s the full AMA rule on dating patients that walks you through the steps in more detail:
https://code-medical-ethics.ama-assn.org/ethics-opinions/romantic-or-sexual-relationships-patients
I'm not saying this sarcastically: have you tried to apply some common sense to that scenario?
Laws probably vary state to state, country to country.
In South Africa, where I live, I knew a few people in university whose parents were doctors and wrote them prescriptions for Ritalin/Concerta or Modafinil. They did not have ADHD nor narcolepsy as far as I was aware.
They also were not willing to share. Man, fuck those guys. Sorry for the tangent.
I always wanted to study on Ritalin. Took it when I needed to write one paper for a class and I got full marks for it, but that was it. I was scared of becoming dependent on it. I guess growing up with limited resources has its perks when you can't afford these things. But yeah, fuck those who don't share.
I enjoyed how American Horro Story: Red Tide embodied this fear. There was a pill that made you extremely creative for a few hours but permanently locked away that creativity without it (and gave such a severe iron deficiency you'd have to drink blood).
This reminds me of a question I have about the whole Monica Lewinsky scandal. Obviously, he was in a position of power and shouldn't have had relations with an intern. But it does beg the question: can any American citizen fully consent to relationships with the active president?
The issue is power and influence, but even the president's wife is subject to a certain level of his presidential authority. So where's the line? When is it "okay" in the eyes of the power dynamic.
Most people are probably reasonable enough to say that his wife, of course, can consent. But it still does make me ponder, and there's an invisible line in the sand somewhere for most people
The defining characteristic is usually direct oversight/power. Can the person reward/punish/fire you? If so then there are ethical concerns involved in a relationship (although a relationship may not be strictly forbidden). Is the person an authority figure like a police officer? Same deal.
Relationships are complex enough that judgments should be, and to the best of my knowledge often are, made on a case-by-case basis. E.g. of course police officers can still have relationships, but they can't say "Date me if you don't want a ticket". For bosses working every day with employees it's also tricky. In the professional circles I know of it's considered risky for a boss to be sleeping with an employee but not forbidden. What is outright illegal is pressuring an employee into a relationship of any kind. Sexual/romantic relationships can still happen, but consent has to be clearly stated and unforced.
Where I live, doctors are discouraged (though not forbidden) to treat themselves and their family because of increased risk of misdiagnose. For example, when treating their own kids, some people tend to worry too much when their children get some fever, which lead to over medication. On the other hand, some people tend to not worry too much and not treating their kids until it's too late.
This is all about etics, and I'm pretty sure that no, they are not allowed to do so. It's highly unethical to give drugs and treat a family member as you won't be objective. The family member should seek help from another physician.
Where I live, it's allowed. But doctors are supposed to take ethics seriously (in general). They can decide. And usually they're intelligent people and able to do so.
Also, what do you do if you're living in the countryside and the only doctor around?