Sexual boundaries code will ban relationships with ex-patients
 Radiographers and other health professionals may be banned from dating former patients unless the contact between them was minimal, according to new draft guidelines.
The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) recommendations follow a series of high-profile cases where healthcare staff sexually abused patients. The guidelines will be formally submitted to the Department of Health in June.
The Department of Health commissioned the report on 'Clear Sexual Boundaries Between Health Professionals and Patients' from the CHRE after three national inquiries found serious failings in the handling of cases of sexual abuse of patients.
CHRE project director, Bamber Postance, said research had shown a “small but serious problem of sexual relationships between health professionals and patients”.
She added: “There have numerous inquiries into the sexual abuse of young, often vulnerable, patients by health and social care professionals. There is also a problem for young female professionals being propositioned by patients. This guidance aims to tackle these issues in a sensible and balanced way, it has been drawn up by a mixed group of health professionals, patients, professional bodies and patients."
The report states that health professionals must establish and maintain clear boundaries.
Professionals attracted to patients should seek advice from a colleague and may have to hand treatment over to a colleague.
Although cases should be judged on an individual basis, the recommendations state that relationships are unprofessional if the patient is exploited, was vulnerable, or the professional relationship was terminated to start a sexual relationship. Under the rules, obtaining a patient's consent would not justify a sexual relationship.
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