Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility
Published on: May 30, 2025
Medical students' learning needs about setting and maintaining social and sexual boundaries: a report
1School of Health Sciences, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. G.White@massey.ac.nz
Background:
Despite increasing awareness of the potentially harmful consequences of social and sexual relationships between doctors and patients, little assessment has been made of the learning needs of medical students for setting and maintaining social and sexual boundaries in the doctor-patient relationship.
Aim:
To assess the learning needs of students with regard to issues concerning the setting of professional boundaries.
Methods:
The study used a 4-part questionnaire, designed to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from medical students in all 6 years of the medical curriculum at 1 Australian university.
Results:
A total of 293 students participated (94.5% response rate). The majority of students were ambivalent about the relationship between social and sexual boundary violations and sexual misconduct. A total of 21% of students said that sexual contact with patients might not be inappropriate. Short answers to a series of vignettes demonstrated conservatism on the part of students when faced with dilemmas. Most (87.4%) of the student population surveyed stated that insufficient teaching time had been given to issues concerning social and sexual boundaries.
Conclusion:
If medical schools shun teaching about the violation of social and sexual boundaries in doctor-patient relationships, sexual predators will continue to graduate.
Related Concept Videos
Nurses' Legal Responsibilities III
Cultivating a culture of collaboration and mutual respect among nurses transcends mere enhancement...
Ethical Standards II
Nurses are entrusted with upholding various ethical principles and standards. Nurses forge solid therapeutic relationships using trust, empathy, autonomy, confidentiality, and professional competence.
Confidentiality is crucial, embodying respect for individual privacy and...
Nurses' Legal Responsibilities II
Communication between nurses and patients...
Ethical Standards I
The Code of Ethics provisions outline the nurse's duty to the patient, the healthcare team, the profession, and society. The Code's fundamental principles include advocacy,...
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Conduct Disorder
