Stalking by patients: doctors' experiences in a Canadian urban area

Stalking involves recurrent unwanted communication, harassment, and intrusive behaviors. The aim of this study was to examine doctors' experiences of being stalked by their patients in a Canadian urban area. A questionnaire designed to study the nature and prevalence of stalking experiences among physicians was sent to 3159 randomly chosen physicians in the Greater Toronto Area. Of the 1190 physicians who responded, 14.9% reported having been stalked. Although both male and female patients were stalkers, their motives and stalking behaviors were dissimilar. Psychiatrists, surgeons, and OB/GYNs reported the highest rates of being stalked. Both male and female physicians are at an increased risk of being stalked by patients who may feel loving feelings or anger and resentment. Varying reasons behind the stalking may account for the differing rates between specialties. Physicians may benefit from recognition of behaviors that tended to precede the onset of stalking behavior.