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J Med Ethics 2005;31:27-28 doi:10.1136/jme.2003.007385
  • Law, ethics and medicine

Private or intimate relations between doctor and patient: is zero tolerance warranted?

  1. W Spiegel1,
  2. T Colella2,
  3. P Lupton3
  1. 1Department of General Practice, Institute of Medical Education, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
  2. 2Lainz Hospital, Vienna, Austria
  3. 3Social philosopher (retired), Bognor Regis, UK & Vienna, Austria
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr W Spiegel
 Department of General Practice, Institute of Medical Education, Medical University of Vienna, Thaliastrasse 102/9, A–1160 Vienna, Austria; wolfgang.spiegelmeduniwien.ac.at
  • Received 16 November 2003
  • Accepted 16 December 2003

Abstract

This article reviews and comments on the five categories of arguments used to defend zero tolerance with regard to sexual contacts resulting from the physician-patient relationship as summarised by Cullen. In addition it puts forward a hypothesis—“fear of loss by third party”—as a psychological explanation for the collective insistence on a zero tolerance policy.

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