title: Intimacy in the patient-physician relationship. Committee on Ethics of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longhurst
mesh_terms: 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