Women's Health Articles

It is unthinkable that a trusted physician would try to take sexual advantage of a patient; however, it does happen. Statistics vary, so I?m not going to provide numbers, but I am grateful to report that, with each passing year, more doctors are being disciplined for this abuse of trust. The only problem is that many of them eventually return to their practices, putting more patients at risk.

Not surprisingly, physicians who sexually offend are most likely to practice (1) psychiatry, (2) obstetrics and gynecology, and (3), family medicine. Sadly, many victims do not report sexual abuse by a physician. I am one such victim and have spent years regretting this decision. My reason or excuse for not reporting this particular physician is that I was simply too sick at the time. I was fighting for a medical diagnosis ?for my very life, and I did not believe that I could handle filing a complaint in addition to coping with endless medical tests, hospitalizations, and my deteriorating health. But this man hurt me emotionally; he violated my trust and ultimately delayed my physical recovery. It was a nightmare that I tried to put aside?a secret that I kept from my dearest friend?my husband?for a very long time.

There are many reasons why a patient might not report a sexual violation by a physician. The physician is in a socially elevated position, and victims fear they won?t be believed. Without a witness, it becomes the patient?s word against the physician?s, and the burden of proof rests on the victim. It is very difficult for a victim to speak up against such a trusted, respected, pillar of the community, but he or she must do so in order to prevent other patients from being targeted. My offending physician did hurt other patients?and I share in the responsibility because I did nothing to stop him. Regardless of how sick I was, I should have tried. Perhaps in writing my book Medical Misfit, Doctor, Why Can?t You Diagnose Me, I can prevent others from making this same mistake.

When a physician takes sexual advantage of a patient, it has nothing to do with love as some vulnerable patients might want to believe. It is not flattering; it is exactly the opposite. The unethical professional is using his or her position to take advantage of patients with no regard as to the consequences to such individuals. It is about betraying a trust and breaking the law to satisfy one?s warped and selfish needs. Such betrayal, in my opinion, could be categorized as murder if a patient dies because he or she is afraid to trust another health professional and refuses to seek treatment.

Physicians who have sexual encounters with multiple patients are indeed sexual predators, but what about the physicians who have an affair with one patient? This is possibly a boundary issue, and some professionals believe the latter may be a candidate for rehabilitation without representing a future risk to other patients. However, I personally have my doubts. As a victim of sexual abuse by a person whom I believed to be a respected physician, I have the right to express such doubts.

If you are a physician and know that you have a problem in this area, find another profession. When you exploit patients sexually, they suffer from nightmares, anxiety, abandonment, mistrust of others, grief, lowered self-esteem, lack of trust, feelings of betrayal, depression, emotional withdrawal and many other symptoms.

I implore all patients to insist that a nurse or attendant be present when any type of intimate exam is being performed by a doctor. Because I was sick and intimidated by the physician who molested me, I ignored the whispered warnings of my mind when he began the exam without another professional in the room. Never, ever will I repeat this mistake. The physician should not want to be alone with a patient during such an examination; if he or she does, something is wrong.

Physicians may find themselves being approached in a sexual way by patients who want more than a professional relationship. When this occurs, the rules are the same, and the physicians should insist that such patients seek medical help elsewhere. Also, this could be a setup with the patient hoping to sue for sexual misconduct. Medical schools and resident training programs need to make boundary education a high priority.

Thankfully, most physicians want to use their education, power, and authority to help and serve others. Please don?t judge all physicians by the actions of ?the few bad apples? in the profession. I?ve slowly learned to trust doctors again, but it is no longer blind trust.