I have a debate coming up on this very boring topic, and I'm suppose to be against it, which I think most people are. I don't believe it's pretty unethical for a doctor to have a relationship with his patient, and if he and the patient really want to have a relationship, all the doctor should do is tell the patient to get a new doctor so they can continue the relationship.
I can't really find anything that can contradict this issue, other than someone asking whether it's okay for a a husband and wife that are doctors to treat eachother, which I find no problem with.
Anyway anyone for, or against this issue, tell me your opinion, if you got the time.
2007-03-08 15:25:11 · 6 answers · asked by Allen S 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
That is a very controversial topic and I'd love to give you my opinion on it! The patient-doctor relationship is something that doctors are thoroughly trained on. Although some break this rule, many do not because they do not want to run the risk of losing their license.
The best example I can think of involves psychiatrists and their patients. Psychiatrists have an immense amount of power over their patients. For patients to truly open up to doctors and receive full treatment, psychiatrists need to know everything: any anxieties, body changes, even frequency of sexual activity sometimes. These are very private things for people to share, but they need to be shared for the doctor to help alleviate any associated problem.
The whole idea behind doctor-patient relationships is to avoid any type of manipulation. Doctors have all of their patients' information and can use it how they may while the patient has no information on the doctor except maybe where they went to medical school and completed their residency. Basically, there is an uneven power structure built into the doctor-patient relationship.
That said, I know that there are some doctors who choose to break the rules. If something were to go bad in the relationship, the patient can sue the doctor or even have the doctor brought before an ethics committee. Many patients (especially psychiatric and psychological) exhibit transference, which is [simply put] developing emotional or sexual feelings towards the doctor. All doctors are trained on how to deal with this (it is countertransference) and should do so appropriately. However, sometimes a doctor needs to be a person and can't resist.
Here's ethics information for the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, as well as the American Medical Association.
Good luck and best wishes!
2007-03-08 15:50:06 · answer #1 · answered by quacky_hijinks 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-28 06:25:54 · answer #2 · answered by Brittany 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The patient must be able to trust his/her doctor, and that means that the doctor must decide, without bias, what is best for the patient. If the doctor crosses that boundary against having a relationship, the doctor is now thinking about what's best for the doctor, not what is best for the patient. Then, by having a relationship, the doctor is no longer neutral but is now involved. How could the patient know whether the doctor is working in his/her best interest? Also, if the doctor is so unprofessional, why would anyone think that doctor is a good doctor, because obviously he/she doesn't understand or follow the rules.
2007-03-08 16:00:44 · answer #3 · answered by Katherine W 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Under no circumstances should a doctor have any relationship with a a patient other than professional. If the doctor feels something for a patient they must stop treating them immediately and refer the person to another doctor. It is not ethical to start a relationship and then make it okay by tell the patient to go to another doctor. It is forbidden to start in the first place. Equally if a patient tell a doctor they have romantic feelings the doctor must immediately tell the patient that he or she cannot continue to treat that person.
2007-03-08 15:39:05 · answer #4 · answered by smilingtalker_au 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here is an example of against...there is doctor and patient confidentiality. There are things that your physician has a need to know in order to effectively treat you, if you are "involved" the patient could keep pertinent information from the doctor in order to preserve the relationship.
Another against...It is hard to make objective decisions when someone is involved romantically with someone else. A physician who is not involved with the patient can be more objective because the heart is not in the way.
Someone may also be more likely to make compromises for someone they care about...example prescribing pain medications that their partner is addicted to not because they want their partner to be addicted, but because they feel helpless or become an enabler.
2007-03-08 15:34:54 · answer #5 · answered by kalea_kane 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
whew!
2007-03-08 15:48:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋