An. Thomson et Ge. White, ATTITUDES TOWARD SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS AND THEIR PATIENTS, New Zealand medical journal, 108(1002), 1995, pp. 247-249
Aims. To examine attitudes toward sexual contact with patients includi
ng seductive and sexually demeaning verbal behaviour. Methods. Anonymo
us questionnaire mailed to a nationwide randomised sample of 217 gener
al practitioners. A response rate of 88% was obtained. Main outcomes m
easures. Attitudes were appraised through responses about the acceptab
ility of sexual contact with current and former patients. Knowledge of
colleagues engaging in sexual contact, seductive or sexually demeanin
g behaviour was also assessed. Disposition toward reporting colleagues
was explored. Results. Ninety per cent of general practitioners indic
ated that it was never permissible to have sexual contact with a curre
nt patient. Twenty per cent agreed that it was never permissible to ha
ve sexual contact with a patient even when treatment had been terminat
ed. While only 4% and 6% respectively knew of a general practitioner w
ho had engaged in seductive or sexually demeaning verbal behaviour, 32
% had personally known of a colleague who had engaged in sexual contac
t with a patient. Participants were divided in their attitudes toward
reporting colleagues for sexual misdemeanours with patients. Conclusio
n. The results have implications for the development of guidelines and
the training of general practitioners.