GENERAL-PRACTITIONER ATTITUDES TOWARD MANDATORY REPORTING OF DOCTOR-PATIENT SEXUAL ABUSE

Aim. To explore general practitioner attitudes toward mandatory report ing of doctor-patient sexual abuse, Methods. Anonymous questionnaire m ailed to a randomised sample of 217 New Zealand general practitioners, Attitudes toward mandatory reporting of doctor-patient sexual contact , seductive or sexually demeaning behaviour were appraised including a n indication of whom the perceived appropriate reporting body should b e, Results. Forty-seven per cent of respondents supported the notion o f mandatory reporting for doctor-patient sexual contact, 42% for sexua lly demeaning behaviour and 35% for seductive verbal behaviour, These respondents indicated that the most appropriate body to report to was a Doctor's Health Advisory Service,Conclusion. There was a lack of str ong consensus on mandatory reporting of doctor-patient sexual abuse.