Romantic or sexual relationships with patients and key third parties

• Scenario 1: A patient's mother expresses romantic interest in you and invites you to lunch.
• Approach
  • Never enter a romantic relationship with a current patient or key third parties (i.e., those involved in patient decision-making and care).
  • Set firm boundaries and avoid unnecessary contact.
    • Ask specific, close-ended questions.
    • Use a chaperone if necessary.
    • Consider transitioning care to another clinician
• Scenario 2: A patient makes a sexually inappropriate comment during genital examination.
• Approach
  • Inform the patient politely and directly that their comment is inappropriate.
  • Request the presence of a chaperone.
  • Ask only direct, close-ended questions.
  • Perform only medically necessary portions of the examination to minimize contact.