Close encounters of the risky kind

Intimate examinations are a minefield for doctors. If they are accused (erroneously or not) of sexual misconduct, their reputation may be irreparably damaged and their patients’ faith seriously undermined.

They may also find themselves removed from the medical register and facing criminal charges. This article is not about defending the indefensible – i.e. where a doctor has exploited a position of power and abused a patient. It is about the misunderstandings that can lead to false accusations.