Profiles and institutional context of doctors who sexually abuse their patients or colleagues

Conference paper


Melville-Wiseman, J. 2013. Profiles and institutional context of doctors who sexually abuse their patients or colleagues.
AuthorsMelville-Wiseman, J.
TypeConference paper
Description

In 2009 the UK regulatory body for doctors, the General Medical Council (GMC), reported that 25% of the total number of cases heard under their fitness to practice (FtP) procedures involved sexual contact with a patient. This is much higher than the numbers reported by the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council of 2% of concluded conduct cases in 2011-12 but lower than those reported by the General Social Care Council (the former regulatory body for UK social workers) of 40% between 2003 and 2008. To date there has been very littler research in the UK in this area looking at the specific institutional context of such abuse, the profile of perpetrators, the experiences of victims or whether regulatory responses are effective (Melville-Wiseman 2013).

This paper reports on research in progress into doctors who have been brought before the (GMC) under their FtP procedures for issues that relate to sexually motivated offences committed in the context of their practice. This includes the sexual abuse of a patient and sexual abuse or harassment of a colleague. The paper identifies the gender dynamics of perpetrators and victims; the length of time since qualification; the location of initial qualifying training and institutional context at the time of the allegations. It also identifies whether regulatory responses are effective and consistent.

The paper concludes with recommendations for initial and post qualifying training for doctors on sexual boundary issues, recommendations for further research into the impact of such abuse on victims and argues for a review of our regulatory bodies and their powers to intervene.

Year2013
ConferenceInterpersonal Violence Interventions - Social and Cultural Perspectives. International Conference,
Publication process dates
Deposited16 Apr 2015
Output statusPublished
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/8747y/profiles-and-institutional-context-of-doctors-who-sexually-abuse-their-patients-or-colleagues

  • 86
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Care experienced social workers as relational activists in the UK
Melville-Wiseman, J., Rodgers-Gray, T. and Starr, M. 2023. Care experienced social workers as relational activists in the UK. in: The Oxford Handbook of Power, Politics and Social Work
Examining relational practice through the unique experiences of care experienced social workers and students
Janet Melville-Wiseman, Dr Trevor-Rodgers-Gray, Carol Namata and Mike Starr 2023. Examining relational practice through the unique experiences of care experienced social workers and students.
The Association of Care Experienced Social Care Workers
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2022. The Association of Care Experienced Social Care Workers. in: The anthology of care experienced social workers UK Kirwin Maclean.
The state of social work education and research report 2020-2021
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2021. The state of social work education and research report 2020-2021. Canterbury Joint University Council for the Applied Social Sciences.
Elusive tensions in everyday relationship-based social work practice: exploring the challenges for social work education at the interface between religion and sexuality
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2021. Elusive tensions in everyday relationship-based social work practice: exploring the challenges for social work education at the interface between religion and sexuality . in: Scherer, B. (ed.) Queering Paradigms IX Peter Lang.
Listening to the voices of care experienced individuals and communities – the disconcerting values of the Government Children’s Social Care Review
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2021. Listening to the voices of care experienced individuals and communities – the disconcerting values of the Government Children’s Social Care Review. Social Work 2020-21 under Covid-19.
Illusions of consent – Police and Crown Prosecution Service responses to victims of professional sexual abuse in mental health services
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2021. Illusions of consent – Police and Crown Prosecution Service responses to victims of professional sexual abuse in mental health services.
Legal protection of title - how far should this extend?
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2021. Legal protection of title - how far should this extend?
Elusive tensions in everyday relationship-based social work practice
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2019. Elusive tensions in everyday relationship-based social work practice.
When is it right to buy? an instrumental case study of 'out of borough' rehousing for families in temporary accommodation and implications for social work
Odell, T. and Melville-Wiseman, J. 2018. When is it right to buy? an instrumental case study of 'out of borough' rehousing for families in temporary accommodation and implications for social work.
When is it right to buy: an instrumental case study of 'out of area' rehousing for families in temporary accommodation and implications for social work
Odell, T. and Melville-Wiseman, J. 2018. When is it right to buy: an instrumental case study of 'out of area' rehousing for families in temporary accommodation and implications for social work.
The sexual abuse of vulnerable people by registered social workers in England: an analysis of the health and care professions council fitness to practise cases
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2016. The sexual abuse of vulnerable people by registered social workers in England: an analysis of the health and care professions council fitness to practise cases. The British Journal of Social Work. 46 (8). https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcw150
Spirituality and sexuality: exploring tensions in everyday relationship-based practice
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2017. Spirituality and sexuality: exploring tensions in everyday relationship-based practice. in: Crisp, B. (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Religion, Spirituality and Social Work Routledge.
A case study of an incident of professional sexual abuse in UK mental health services
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2016. A case study of an incident of professional sexual abuse in UK mental health services. in: International Womens Issues Conference 2016 - Selected Papers University of Central Florida.
Pathologies or apologies? The usefulness of Luke 17:3 as a model for responding to professional sexual abuse of vulnerable adults in the mental health system
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2011. Pathologies or apologies? The usefulness of Luke 17:3 as a model for responding to professional sexual abuse of vulnerable adults in the mental health system.
Teaching through the tension – an approach to resolving schism in the classroom
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2011. Teaching through the tension – an approach to resolving schism in the classroom.
Mental health law in the UK and the professional sexual abuse of women.
Melville-Wiseman, J. and Eastern Mediterranean University 2013. Mental health law in the UK and the professional sexual abuse of women. in: Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference - Gender Equality and the Law: Famagusta, Cyprus Eastern Mediterranean University Press.
Taking relationships into account in mental health services
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2012. Taking relationships into account in mental health services. in: Koubel, G. and Bungay, H. (ed.) Rights, Risks and Responsibilities: Interprofessional Working in Health and Social Care Basingstoke Palgrave. pp. 123-141
Professional sexual abuse in mental health services: capturing practitioner views of a contemporary corruption of care
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2011. Professional sexual abuse in mental health services: capturing practitioner views of a contemporary corruption of care. Social Work and Social Sciences Review. 15 (3), pp. 26-43. https://doi.org/10.1921/095352212X655320
Teaching through the tension: resolving religious and sexuality based schism in social work education
Melville-Wiseman, J. 2013. Teaching through the tension: resolving religious and sexuality based schism in social work education. International Social Work. 56 (3), pp. 290-309. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872812474485