Doctors and Patients

The new Medical Council rules on relationships between doctors and patients or former patients seem very sensible.

As reported in the Herald, the summary is:

* Relationship with current patient is zero tolerance
* Relationship with former patient is not allowed if doctor has provided counselling of patient had been sexually abused

In small towns especially it is unrealistic to expect a doctor can never ever have a relationship with a former patient. It is disappointing to see Women’s Health Action take such an uncompromising line.