WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- New Zealand's New Medical Council has ruled it is ethically acceptable for physicians to have sex relations with former patients under certain circumstances.
The New Zealand Herald reported Saturday there is still a zero-tolerance position on doctors having a sexual relationship with a current patient.
Doctors are also prohibited from having sex with a patient for whom they had provided psychotherapy, long-term counseling or who had in the past been sexually abused. But the new rule is considered more realistic for patients who have had only minor contact with a physician.
"For example if you had one (contact) with the patient two years ago for a sprained ankle, most of the profession (has) said it's unrealistic to never have a relationship," the council said.
However, the Women's Health Action's Jo Fitzpatrick said her group saw no reason to ease the rules.
"The doctor-patient relationship is not equal," she said. "Doctors can influence and possibly manipulate some patients, so even if a patient has consented to a sexual relationship, this is not a sufficient excuse and it is still considered a breach of sexual boundaries."
