Sexual Relationships with Patients

Monday 29th June 2009: Sexual relationships with patients are unethical and may compromise patient care. The effects of physician-patient sexual contact are almost always negative or damaging to the patient. Patients are often left feeling humiliated, mistreated or exploited, said Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India and Director IMAAKN Sinha Institute.

Medical Council of India (MCI) does not deal with the issue in detail but concludes that an improper relation, association or conduct between the patient and doctor is unethical.

Physicians and patients may be genuinely attracted to each other. However, any relationship in which a physician might take advantage of the patient’s emotional or psychological vulnerability is unethical.

As per the American Medical Association’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs
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