Final answer:
Sexual abuse of a patient by a member of the CMRTO is considered professional misconduct that encompasses unwelcome sexual advances, sexual favors, and any verbal or physical sexual conduct that creates a hostile environment, likely causing emotional and physical harm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sexual abuse of a patient by a member of the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario (CMRTO) can be categorized as professional misconduct. This kind of misconduct includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. Such actions may cause emotional harm and physical harm to the victim.
In 1980, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defined sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that interfere with a person's employment or creates a hostile work environment. Sexual abuse within a professional setting, such as that described by a CMRTO member victimizing a patient, falls squarely within this definition and constitutes professional misconduct.