The physician as perpetrator of abuse.

Abstract

Although the exploitation and abuse of patients is forbidden by every code of medical ethics, physicians are in a power position vis-a-vis their patients, and this power may be misused. The spectrum of abusive physician behaviors includes doctors functioning as agents of control, exploiting physicianly perogatives, acting out personal problems in the medical setting, allowing subversion of their judgment, deliberately delivering suboptimal care, dehumanizing care, and sexually exploiting patients. Guidelines for the treatment of patients with such prior experiences are offered.