Ms. Christine E. Dehlendorf

Christine E. Dehlendorf, BSc; Sidney M. Wolfe, MD
...
Dehlendorf is currently a medical student at the University of Washington, Seattle.

To the Editor: In response to the article by Ms Dehlendorf and Dr Wolfe about physicians who have been disciplined for sex-related offenses, it
...
Christine E. Dehlendorf, BSc

University of Washington School of Medicine

Christine E. Dehlendorf, BSc; Sidney M. Wolfe, MD
...
Ms Dehlendorf is currently a medical student at the University of Washington, Seattle.
...
To the Editor: In response to the article by Ms Dehlendorf and Dr Wolfe1 about physicians who have been disciplined for sex-related offenses, it occurred to me that others might be interested in the initiatives undertaken by Colorado physicians to address this problem and other boundary violations.In 1996, a cooperative program was developed with the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners, the Colorado Physician Health Program, and Copic Insurance Company.
...
Christine E. Dehlendorf, BSc University of Washington School of Medicine Seattle
...
The first article, by Dehlendorf and Wolfe,1 uses a national database to examine trends and characteristics of 761 physicians who had disciplinary orders for sexual misconduct entered from 1981 through 1996 by a state or federal agency.
...
Nonetheless, while the articles by Dehlendorf and Wolfe1 and by Morrison and Wickersham2 indicate that formal disciplinary action is taken against less than 1% of physicians in the United States each year, even 1% is still far too many.Neither article, of course, deals with physician negligence, incompetence, or misconduct that was not reported or did not result in disciplinary action.The role of the medical profession has been and continues to be one of leadership in addressing this troublesome problem.For instance, through its opinions of the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA), policies on education and standard setting, and use of its communications and media relations, the American Medical Association (AMA) has tried to increase physician and public awareness of appropriate ethical behavior by physicians.CEJA has previously issued opinions on 2 major issues that are germane to the articles by Dehlendorf and Wolfe1 and by Morrison and Wickersham.2 First, sexual contact with a current patient constitutes sexual misconduct.Also, a sexual or romantic relationship with a former patient is unethical "if the physician uses or exploits trust, knowledge, emotions or influence derived from the previous professional relationship."3 Second, in the case of physicians' responsibility to consider the character of their colleagues, the Council has called on the profession to abandon the "conspiracy of silence" surrounding unprofessional behavior, and has noted, "Incompetence, corruption, or dishonest or unethical conduct on the part of members of the medical profession is reprehensible."3 Furthermore, in dealing with knowledge of a colleague's misconduct, "A physician should expose, without fear or loss of favor, incompetent or corrupt, dishonest or unethical conduct on the part of members of the profession."3 Enhancing professionalism and addressing physician misconduct should remain major agenda items for organized medicine, with particular focus on strengthening the medical profession's responsibility and accountaility.By law and by tradition in the United States, formal disciplining of physicians is a function of state licensing boards.These licensing boards have become better equipped to identify and manage physician misconduct.As a result, more actions and more severe sanctions may be applied to physicians, particularly for sexual violations, than in the past.Therefore, examining sexual misconduct, as in the study by Dehlendorf and Wolfe,1 may reflect increased reporting of disciplinary actions rather than an increased occurrence of misconduct.
...
As suggested by Dehlendorf and Wolfe,1 the legal system does have an important role to play.

By Neal Barnard, M.D., and Christine Dehlendorf
...
Christine E. Dehlendorf is a second-year medical student at the University of Washington-Seattle.