Recent shocking and highly publicized sexual misconduct by physicians has likely sensitized many patients to sexual boundary issues surrounding the physician-patient relationship. This, and victim empowerment movements such as #MeToo, may result in an increase in patient lawsuits, medical board disciplinary actions, and criminal actions for real or perceived physician sexual misconduct. Public pressure could also result in physicians being held to higher professional boundary standards than they might have been in the past. Now is a good time to assess (or reassess) your practice and put processes in place to reduce the risk of sexual misconduct allegations.

This article includes healthcare ethics content, which may help meet CME credit ethics requirements in some states.