General practitioner attitudes toward mandatory reporting of doctor-patient sexual abuse.
OBJECTIVE
To explore general practitioner attitudes toward mandatory reporting of doctor-patient sexual abuse.


METHODS
Anonymous questionnaire mailed to a randomised sample of 217 New Zealand general practitioners. Attitudes toward mandatory reporting of doctor-patient sexual contact, seductive or sexually demeaning behaviour were appraised including an indication of whom the perceived appropriate reporting body should be.


RESULTS
Forty-seven per cent of respondents supported the notion of mandatory reporting for doctor-patient sexual contact, 42% for sexually demeaning behaviour and 35% for seductive verbal behaviour. These respondents indicated that the most appropriate body to report to was a Doctor's Health Advisory Service.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a lack of strong consensus on mandatory reporting of doctor-patient sexual abuse.
White
G E
GE
Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Massey University at Albany.
Coverdale
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005194:Family Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D009520:New Zealand; D010815:Physician Impairment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017406:Sexual Harassment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence