Photo: Anete Lusina

Can I flirt with my doctor?

A definite “don't” in any physician's playbook. The problem is that not every patient plays by the rules, and a patient prone to flirtation can create a dicey ethical dilemma for a doctor—or at least make office visits uncomfortable for physicians and staff.

enttoday.org - How to Handle Romantic Advances from a Patient - ENTtoday

What is a healthy cranberry juice?

Tip. The healthiest cranberry juice is one made from 100 percent juice, preferably all cranberries, without any added sugar or additives.

Last updated Feb 5, 2022

How do you check zinc levels?

Diagnosing zinc deficiency You can get a plasma test, which is taken from your blood plasma (the yellowish liquid component of blood). There are...

Last updated Jun 16, 2019

Promotion

The lesson for fledgling doctors comes early in medical school: Getting romantically involved with a patient is forbidden. Verboten. A definite “don’t” in any physician’s playbook. The problem is that not every patient plays by the rules, and a patient prone to flirtation can create a dicey ethical dilemma for a doctor—or at least make office visits uncomfortable for physicians and staff. While physicians vary in their approaches to managing flirtatious patients, many agree that nipping the behavior in the bud is critical to maintaining professionalism and upholding ethical standards. “It’s flattering to have a flirtatious patient,” said Kenneth W. Altman, MD, PhD, director of the Eugen Grabscheid MD Voice Center and associate professor of otolaryngology at the Icahn School of Medicine, both at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “But, we have an obligation to protect the integrity of our profession, and to our marital contracts, to act professionally at all times.” Dr. Altman finds it helpful to put some professional distance between himself and a flirtatious patient. “I have no problem saying to a patient: I appreciate what interests you may have, but I have to draw the line to take proper professional care of you,” he said. Laura T. Hetzler, MD, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, La., and assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, said she derails flirtatious behavior from patients by deflecting their unwelcome comments. “I’ve learned not to act sheepish about it,” said Dr. Hetzler, who has had patients who weren’t shy about commenting on her clothes, shoes, figure or recent weight loss after pregnancy. When a patient’s remark crosses the line from complimentary to something uncomfortable, she either curtly laughs it off or ignores it. “I don’t acknowledge the statement and immediately move the conversation into something clinical,” Dr. Hetzler said. “That puts the rest of the visit in a serious tone.”

Take a Team Approach

Dr. Hetzler also instructs her nurses to have another staffer accompany them into an exam room when a patient known for being flirtatious is waiting to be seen, and to leave the door open. Dr. Hetzler said she also brings a nurse with her during an exam with that type of patient. Likewise, other physicians use a “more is merrier” approach for themselves and their staff as a defense against flirtatious behavior. “It is a problem we avoid by having our physicians never see patients alone,” said Robert Sataloff, MD, DMA, FACS, professor and chairman of the department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery, senior associate dean for clinical academic specialties at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and a physician with Philadelphia Ear, Nose and Throat Associates. “There is always a nurse or medical assistant [in the room with the physician], even if we have to see somebody in the office on call after hours,” he said. “We have a call schedule for the nursing and medical assistant staff. And that includes patients of both genders, regardless of gender of physician, since flirtatious behavior can be same-sex flirtatious behavior.”

How long does it take for enlarged prostate to go down?

Over several months, the body's immune system reabsorbs the dead prostate tissue and replaces it with scar tissue. The scar tissue slowly...

Last updated Feb 25, 2020

Is salad good for prostate?

A SPOONFUL of salad dressing a day may improve a man's survival chances after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, research has shown. The finding...

Last updated May 23, 2019

Promotion

Why would a man need a cystoscopy?

Cystoscopy allows a health care provider to view the lower urinary tract to look for problems in the urethra and bladder. Surgical tools can be passed through the cystoscope to treat certain urinary tract conditions.

mayoclinic.org - Male cystoscopy - Mayo Clinic

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Can cranberry cure prostatitis?

Cranberry juice Cranberry juice is most well-known for the beneficial effect it can have on symptoms of a urinary tract infection; however, it may...

Last updated Oct 14, 2020

How can I make my sperm super strong?

What's the best way to produce healthy sperm? Maintain a healthy weight. Some research suggests that increasing body mass index (BMI) is linked...

Last updated Mar 22, 2018

Promotion

What juice Can I drink if I have high cholesterol?

There are certain drinks that can help maintain an ideal cholesterol level. Some of the best drinks for cholesterol management include green tea,...

Last updated Sep 3, 2021

Promotion

Which seeds are best for erectile dysfunction?

Ground flax seeds This superfood is known for its rich antioxidant properties and for increasing blood flow to the sexual organs. Jun 19, 2018

Last updated Sep 5, 2021