Calling Dr. Love: The Physician-Patient Sexual Relationship as Grounds for Medical Malpractice - Society Pays While the Doctor and Patient Play

Abstract

This note examines "consensual" sexual relationships between non-mental health physicians and patients. More specifically, it examines whether such relationships ever amount to medical malpractice. Generally, a non-mental health physician would be liable under the rubric of medical malpractice only if the sexual relationship was commenced under the guise of "medical treatment." Recent cases, however, have expanded liability in certain circumstances when the physician-patient relationship has involved "counseling matters." "Counseling matters" describes talking to patients about their feelings, or discussing personal problems not necessarily related to their proposed treatment. Medical treatment supplemented by "counseling" purportedly requires greater scrutiny due to the higher levels of trust and confidence necessary to protect the patients' interests. These cases adopt the more rigorous legal approach applied to mental health physicians. Mental health physicians (psychologists and psychiatrists) have routinely been held liable for medical malpractice based on sexual relationships with their patients. This liability arises out of mishandling the "transference phenomenon."