Sexual misconduct by doctors: a problem that has not gone away

Galletly, Cherrie Ann

doi:10.5694/mja2.50734

Topics

Ethics and law

Sexual health

Health services administration

The medical profession has the opportunity to prevent further harm to patients and damage to public trust

Bismark and colleagues1 report the disappointing finding that health practitioners, particularly doctors, continue to be found guilty of sexual misconduct with patients. During 2011–2016, Australian regulators received more than 100 notifications of sexual misconduct by Australian doctors each year. As with other sexual crimes, it is likely that many victims do not make formal complaints; in this study, only 34% of notifications were made by affected patients.

1 Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA
2 Ramsay Health Care (SA), The Adelaide Clinic, Adelaide, SA
3 Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Adelaide, SA

Correspondence: cherrie.galletly@adelaide.edu.au

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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