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It is the position of the North Carolina Medical Board that sexual exploitation of a patient is unprofessional conduct and undermines the public trust in the medical profession. Sexual exploitation encompasses a wide range of behaviors which have in common the intended sexual gratification of the physician. These behaviors include sexual intercourse with a patient (consensual or non-consensual ), touching genitalia with ungloved hands, sexually suggestive comments, asking patients for a date, inappropriate exploration of the patients or physician’s sexual phantasias, touching or exposing genitalia, breast, or other parts of the body in ways not dictated by an appropriate and indicated physical examination, exchanging sexual favors for services. Sexual exploitation is grounds for the suspension , revocation, or other action against a physician’s license. This position statement is based upon the Federation of State Medical Board’s guidelines regarding sexual boundaries.
Sexual misconduct by physicians and other health care practitioners is a form of behavior that adversely affects the public welfare and harms patients individually and collectively. Physician sexual misconduct exploits the physician-patient relationship, is a violation of the public trust, and is often known to cause harm, both mentally and physically, to the patient.
Regardless of whether sexual misconduct is viewed as emanating from an underlying form of impairment, it is unarguably a violation of the public’s trust.
As with other disciplinary actions taken by the Board, Board action against a medical licensee for sexual exploitation of a patient is published by the Board, the nature of the offense being clearly specified. It is also released to the news media, to state and federal government, and to medical and professional organizations.