New case study examines professionalism, boundaries in the patient-physician relationship
The case study, which addresses use of chaperones in intimate examinations, was developed by ACP's Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee.
A new ethics case study, “Chaperones, Professional Boundaries and the Potential for Misunderstandings,” is now available.
The case study reviews the duty of all physicians to uphold the core values of medicine and professionalism in their interactions with patients, preserving the trust foundational to the patient-physician relationship. Physicians must be aware of and avoid interactions that are or may be perceived as of a sexual nature. The presence of a chaperone, particularly for intimate examinations, can help avoid misunderstanding and protect both the patient and the physician.
The ethics case study was developed by ACP's Ethics, Professionalism and Human Rights Committee. ACP members can claim CME and MOC points after reading the case study and completing the required survey. More information about ACP's ethics and professionalism activities is online.