<p> Doctors are advised not to enter into sexual relationships with patients until the lapse of a year of their doctor-patient relationship. This is one of the guidelines for doctors on sexual boundaries. <br /><br /></p>.<p>A draft copy of the guidelines by The Bangalore Declaration group and the Indian Psychiatric Society Task Force on Boundary Guidelines was uploaded on Saturday.<br /><br /> “A minimum time frame of one year should elapse after the doctor-patient relationship is terminated, after which it may be permissible for a doctor to have a sexual relationship with a patient (so long as existing laws of the Indian Penal Code are not broken).<br /><br /> Doctors are reminded of the difficulties with defining a time frame, as ending of treatment does not signify the end of the doctor-patient relationship in view of the multiple issues involved, including relapse rates of illnesses,” the guidelines read. <br /><br />The task force had made it clear last week that doctors should ensure that they do not exploit the doctor-patient relationship for personal, social, business or sexual gain. They have also said that even a consensual relationship between the patient and doctor could have an adverse effect on the doctor-patient dynamic. <br /><br />“Sexual relationships between doctors and patients invariably harm both the patient and the doctor. Trust, which is central to an effective doctor-patient relationship, is inevitably damaged. In view of the power gradient that invariably exists in the doctor-patient relationship, the onus is on the doctor to ensure he or she does not enter into an emotional or sexual relationship with a patient,” the draft guidelines read. <br /><br />Dr Sunita Simon Kurpad, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, and Professor and Head, Department of Medical Ethics, St John's Medical College and Hospital, said that these guidelines which had now uploaded on the Indian Psychiatric Society website would be open for feedback from doctors across specialisations. <br /><br />“Doctors and other experts are invited to send their feedback till October. Once the final guidelines are considered by the end of October, it is up to all the other associations to adopt them. We are also approaching the Medical Council of India to make them available to all,” Dr Kurpad added. </p>
<p> Doctors are advised not to enter into sexual relationships with patients until the lapse of a year of their doctor-patient relationship. This is one of the guidelines for doctors on sexual boundaries. <br /><br /></p>.<p>A draft copy of the guidelines by The Bangalore Declaration group and the Indian Psychiatric Society Task Force on Boundary Guidelines was uploaded on Saturday.<br /><br /> “A minimum time frame of one year should elapse after the doctor-patient relationship is terminated, after which it may be permissible for a doctor to have a sexual relationship with a patient (so long as existing laws of the Indian Penal Code are not broken).<br /><br /> Doctors are reminded of the difficulties with defining a time frame, as ending of treatment does not signify the end of the doctor-patient relationship in view of the multiple issues involved, including relapse rates of illnesses,” the guidelines read. <br /><br />The task force had made it clear last week that doctors should ensure that they do not exploit the doctor-patient relationship for personal, social, business or sexual gain. They have also said that even a consensual relationship between the patient and doctor could have an adverse effect on the doctor-patient dynamic. <br /><br />“Sexual relationships between doctors and patients invariably harm both the patient and the doctor. Trust, which is central to an effective doctor-patient relationship, is inevitably damaged. In view of the power gradient that invariably exists in the doctor-patient relationship, the onus is on the doctor to ensure he or she does not enter into an emotional or sexual relationship with a patient,” the draft guidelines read. <br /><br />Dr Sunita Simon Kurpad, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, and Professor and Head, Department of Medical Ethics, St John's Medical College and Hospital, said that these guidelines which had now uploaded on the Indian Psychiatric Society website would be open for feedback from doctors across specialisations. <br /><br />“Doctors and other experts are invited to send their feedback till October. Once the final guidelines are considered by the end of October, it is up to all the other associations to adopt them. We are also approaching the Medical Council of India to make them available to all,” Dr Kurpad added. </p>
