BBC - Radio 4 - Woman's Hour -Sexual abuse by doctors

Examining the boundaries of the doctor-patient relationship

Following Ruth Kelly's decision to introduce tighter procedures for ensuring sex offenders are not allowed to work in schools, Woman's Hour puts the spotlight on the health service, and exploring the power dynamic between doctors and patients.

The findings of an independent inquiry into the biggest single case of sexual abuse by doctors in the NHS calls for a big change of culture. It investigated how two consultant psychiatrists sexually assaulted at least 77 of their women patients over a 20 year period, up until the late 1980s.

It concluded that complaints were ignored because of excessive respect for consultants, and greater concern for professionals than for patients.

So could the same kind of abuse happen today? And what are the boundaries of appropriate behaviour between doctors and patients?

Jenni discusses the issues with Kathy Haq, survivor of abuse and co-ordinator of the campaign for the Kerr/Haslam inquiry, Professor Julie Stone, Deputy Director of the Council for Health Regulatory Excellence and Dr Chess Denman, consultant psychiatrist at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.

Further information: BBC Actionline 0800 044 044

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Council for Health Regulatory Excellence

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