Manager Practice


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THE CORNERSTONE OF ANY PATIENT RELATIONSHIP: TRUST


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or someone close to them. GMC guidance Maintaining a professional boundary between you and your patient also states that doctors must not end a professional relationship with a patient solely to pursue a personal relationship with them.


The GDC in its Standards for the Dental Team


also states: “You must maintain appropriate boundaries in the relationships you have with patients. You must not take advantage of your position as a dental professional in your relationships with patients.” But is it ever appropriate for doctors or


FAR?


goes on: “If a patient contacts you about their care or other professional matters through your private profile, you should indicate that you cannot mix social and professional relationships and, where appropriate, direct them to your professional profile”. MDDUS recommends that doctors and


dentists decline friend requests and, if the matter is raised by a patient, offer a polite explanation of the importance of maintaining a strictly professional relationship. If a patient persists in seeking to engage via social media it may be helpful to discuss the matter with the practice team. As with nearly all difficult situations, it is also essential to keep a clear record of everything that is happening at the time it happens. It is also worth highlighting to clinicians and other practice staff that


WWW.MDDUS.COM


they can take steps to minimise the chances of patients making contact via social media. Offering guidance to ensure privacy settings are as secure as possible and trying to keep a clear line between professional and personal pages are important.


MORE THAN A FRIEND Another dilemma for some practices is whether it is ever appropriate for a doctor or dentist to become romantically involved with a patient, either past or present. As highlighted at the outset, trust is the foundation of any patient relationship. The GMC is clear that a personal relationship with a current patient is never acceptable. Doctors must never use their professional position to pursue a sexual or improper emotional relationship with a patient


dentists to become involved with former patients? There are no answers or set time limits in such situations and clinicians must always exercise their judgement. The GMC explains that the more recently a professional relationship with a patient ended, the less likely it is that beginning a personal relationship with that patient would be appropriate. The duration of the professional relationship may also be relevant. For example, a relationship with a former patient treated over a number of years is more likely to be inappropriate than a relationship with a patient seen in a single consultation. Much also depends on whether there could be any perceived abuse of position. Factors to consider include the amount of time since the patient was last seen in a consultation, whether they are vulnerable and whether family members are still under treatment.


IN SUMMARY Having practice policies in place can help highlight and reduce risks associated with these types of situations. In addition, practice managers can play a role in ensuring a practice culture exists in which staff are able to discuss openly any concerns they have about relationships with patients and approaches from patients, knowing that they will be supported in how to deal with these mindfully and safely.


Dr Naeem Nazem is a medical adviser at MDDUS


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