Ethics Question - Stumped!

[Aren123]

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I'm kind of stumped on an ethics question and would like your thoughts.

Scenario:
You're a medical student and you have a young (girl in her early 20s) under your care for 2 weeks during a rotation. After 2 weeks you move onto a different rotation and some time passes until suddenly your former 'patient'/the girl hits you up and says you're attractive/wants to start a relationship. You also find her attractive. Can you guys begin seeing each other? Or does this scenario also fall under the "Physician-patient must never date scenario?"

 

[Kboy2]

Personally I would go with Physician-Patient relationship scenario. We may be students, but the professional standards should never be lowered because of that. That would be my pick anyway - couldnt find any literature to confirm/deny that.

Reasoning:

Q's where we are students and the resident/attending does something wrong/inappropriate and we need to pick between the patient, keep to ourselves, or the attending, it always goes back to absolute professionalism, even if the patient doesnt care.

You are a doctor, made a mistake but the patient doesnt mind or is happy about it (ie a constipated pt accidentally being given a laxative or something), you still MUST tell them for the sake of professionalism and honesty.

Overall though, I think the question writers typically want us to be as goody-goody/professional as possible in all cases so leaning towards that type of answer choice would be the safer bet imo.

 

[aspiringmd1015]

sounds like a personal problem, and a good one to have at that lmao

 

[Macaroon_Berry]

sounds like a personal problem, and a good one to have at that lmao

lol, I agree with this.

 

[Aren123]

(Haha I wish!)
It was a test question.

I was going for the professionalism thing too at first but wasn't sure since technically she wasn't my "patient," and she's not under my care/service anymore, if that makes any sense. More thoughts?

 

[J ROD]

First rule I was taught in school. Never date a patient. Even as a med student. We are covered under the same expectations.

I still think if you have no power over their care it should not matter. The relationship of physician-patient must be able to be broken if both parties wish. Hence, once that relationship has been broken and there is no influence on care I think a guy and gal should be able to get it started if they so decide to.

I know it can be a slippery slope but I just do not see how they can be so absolute about it. In general, it is a good policy not to mess with patients. Just stick to nurses and pharmacists.....haha

 

[nidusiamnot]

If you ever watched Kaplan Behavioral, you can never ever ever date a patient, in the world of the Boards.

 

[Transposony]

(Haha I wish!)
It was a test question.

I was going for the professionalism thing too at first but wasn't sure since technically she wasn't my "patient," and she's not under my care/service anymore, if that makes any sense. More thoughts?

She is a former patient so you can't date her in the USMLE world.
However, you can become her "Mentor" if you can't resist (Sublimation).

Follow up question:
What if she starts working at the same hospital as a Medical student/Nurse/Pharmacist/Secretory........?

 

[Transposony]

If you ever watched Kaplan Behavioral, you can never ever ever date a patient, in the world of the Boards.

What if you change profession or retire from medical profession?

 

[Macaroon_Berry]

This is a funny thread lol.

 

[jakeislove]

The doctor/patient relationship has ended.

 

[SBR249]

I think the logic behind some people advocating that doctors not date even former patients is that there is still an element of unequal power here. While the doctor is treating the patient, there is definitely an imbalance in power in that the patient could be in a position to be coerced by the doctor because the doctor has authority regarding his/her care. OTOH, when the patient is now an erstwhile patient, the dynamics do change in that the patient is no longer under a doctor's care. However, the doctor may still have access to or knowledge of the patient's private health information. So the logic is that this knowledge still puts the doctor and former patient on unequal footing in terms of power and therefore, some would argue that it is not acceptable to date former patients. You may be able to be a bit more nuanced in saying not to date more recent ex-patients, but where to draw the line?

In any case, I would imagine exceptions do have to be made. I mean, what if you were a single rural doctor and there's not another PCP for hundreds of miles? I think no one would say that you must remain celibate for the rest of your life (or career).

 

[Aren123]

The doctor/patient relationship has ended.

THIS.

 

[jakeislove]

I've read someplace that a psychiatrist can never date a former patient.