Intimacy in the patient-physician relationship. Committee on Ethics of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Family physicians have privileged access to the intimate lives of their patients. Such access is essential for good patient-physician relationships. However, intimate access renders patients vulnerable to harm and places a tremendous burden of trust upon physicians. Physicians earn this trust by exercising care in drawing and preserving the boundary between appropriate and inappropriate intimacy.
Yeo
M
M
Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia.
Longhurst
M
M
D002170:Canada; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014110:Touch