Maybe it is more common than we all think, I got a PM from a resident who had this happen in their program. (Not neurosurgery). It sounds like it was fairly dramatic since the resident was given favor as the result of the relationship. The attending held a fairly high title in the department. Other residents who did not get along with the resident in question felt threatened, as if there would be relaliation for any disagreements (we all have them in residency). The pair would disappear for hours during the workday leaving everyone else wondering why they were suddenly short staffed. The attending in question still denied the relationship even when confronted by the rest of the department until finally witnesses were called in. The attending finally admitted to the relationship, but still demanded to be involved in training the resident. The attending was eventually relieved of his duties.
This situation sounds so different from the NYtimes article.
I did also hear of an attending having an affair with one of the resident's wives. Apparently there was some kind of confrontation about it at the department's yearly graduation, and the attending was eventually relocated to a different institution. This was ten years ago per the account however.
