Question

One of your patients of the opposite sex begins to act seductively and proceeds to ask you out for dinner. Which one of the following would be an appropriate response?

A. Ignore the patient's advances
B. Compliment the patient on the way she (or he) is dressed
C. Tell the patient that you are seeing someone and therefore can't accept the offer
D. Examine your own countertransference and explore the meaning of the patient's behavior
E. Have sex with the patient and then make the patient find a new doctor

Answer 1

The correct response when a patient acts seductively and asks a healthcare professional out is to examine the professional's own countertransference and to explore the patient's behavior, maintaining professional boundaries.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient begins to act seductively and asks a healthcare professional out for dinner, it is critical to maintain professional boundaries. The most appropriate response among the options provided is D. Examine your own countertransference and explore the meaning of the patient's behavior. This approach acknowledges the importance of understanding the therapeutic relationship and the professional boundaries required within it. Engaging in a personal relationship with a patient can lead to ethical concerns and compromise the care being provided. Directly addressing the patient's behavior in a professional and gentle manner, setting clear boundaries, and potentially seeking supervision or consulting with colleagues for guidance is key to maintaining professionalism.