The doctor-patient relationship is fraught with risk. Patients may be at risk from a doctor who misuses their position of authority, or is unclear where the appropriate boundaries lie. Doctors risk disciplinary or criminal proceedings when this happens. This book aims to address these risks, to assist clinicians in their daily relationships with patients, and to improve patient safety. The authors examine the ethical principles and how these may be taught; prevalence of abuse; regulation and sanctions; management and governance; remediation; and the roles of the different organisations that may be involved, such as the General Medical Council and medical protection societies. This is a practical guide to help clinicians avoid boundary violations and improve patient safety.

'This book clearly maps the territory in the complex areas of boundaries between patient and professional (all regulated healthcare professions, not just doctors). Experts are drawn in from general practice, psychotherapy, sexual therapies and nursing; obstetrics and gynaecology; as well as teachers, ethicists, medical managers and healthcare regulators. … The book contains important guidance on the prevention of boundary violations that vulnerable doctors can blunder into, perhaps due to a sometimes toxic combination of over-enthusiasm and naiveté.'

Source: British Journal of Psychiatry