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Physicians Disciplined for Sex-Related Offenses
Christine E. Dehlendorf, BSc;
Sidney M. Wolfe, MD
JAMA. 1998;279:1883-1888.
Context.— Physicians who abuse their patients sexually cause immense harm, and, therefore, the discipline of physicians who commit any sex-related offenses is an important public health issue that should be examined.
Objectives.— To determine the frequency and severity of discipline against physicians who commit sex-related offenses and to describe the characteristics of these physicians.
Design and Setting.— Analysis of sex-related orders from a national database of disciplinary orders taken by state medical boards and federal agencies.
Subjects.— A total of 761 physicians disciplined for sex-related offenses from 1981 through 1996.
Main Outcome Measures.— Rate and severity of discipline over time for sex-related offenses and specialty, age, and board certification status of disciplined physicians.
Results.— The number of physicians disciplined per year for sex-related offenses increased from 42 in 1989 to 147 in 1996, and the proportion of all disciplinary orders that were sex related increased from 2.1% in 1989 to 4.4% in 1996 (P<.001 for trend). Discipline for sex-related offenses was significantly more severe (P<.001) than for non–sex-related offenses, with 71.9% of sex-related orders involving revocation, surrender, or suspension of medical license. Of 761 physicians disciplined, the offenses committed by 567 (75%) involved patients, including sexual intercourse, rape, sexual molestation, and sexual favors for drugs. As of March 1997, 216 physicians (39.9%) disciplined for sex-related offenses between 1981 and 1994 were licensed to practice. Compared with all physicians, physicians disciplined for sex-related offenses were more likely to practice in the specialties of psychiatry, child psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, and family and general practice (all P<.001) than in other specialties and were older than the national physician population, but were no different in terms of board certification status.
Conclusions.— Discipline against physicians for sex-related offenses is increasing over time and is relatively severe, although few physicians are disciplined for sexual offenses each year. In addition, a substantial proportion of physicians disciplined for these offenses are allowed to either continue to practice or return to practice.
From the Public Citizen's Health Research Group, Washington, DC. Ms Dehlendorf is currently a medical student at the University of Washington, Seattle.
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