Posted by noa on April 29, 2004, at 21:31:57
In reply to Re: Shadow, I agree w/ you/ I DO NOT, posted by Fallen4MyT on April 27, 2004, at 10:06:15
>Pdocs can never get involved with patients according to the American Psychiatric Association and I do not know the rules for social workers.
>Its less restrictive for social workers
OK, so I was curious and went and looked up some info on this. I've cited from 3 codes of ethics below. As for legal restrictions, these probably vary by state as most things do. But the ethics codes are by prof. organization. These below are the american ones.
Psychologists: APA Code of Ethics
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html#10_08[ my comment: The 2-year period is only the first part of the rule. Read the second part--it is very important. I would bet that by "most unusual circumstances" they are talking about people who live in really remote places with very small populations and situations like that]
10.08 Sexual Intimacies With Former Therapy Clients/Patients
(a) Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients for at least two years after cessation or termination of therapy.(b) Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients even after a two-year interval except in the most unusual circumstances. Psychologists who engage in such activity after the two years following cessation or termination of therapy and of having no sexual contact with the former client/patient bear the burden of demonstrating that there has been no exploitation, in light of all relevant factors, including (1) the amount of time that has passed since therapy terminated; (2) the nature, duration, and intensity of the therapy; (3) the circumstances of termination; (4) the client's/patient's personal history; (5) the client's/patient's current mental status; (6) the likelihood of adverse impact on the client/patient; and (7) any statements or actions made by the therapist during the course of therapy suggesting or inviting the possibility of a posttermination sexual or romantic relationship with the client/patient. (See also Standard 3.05, Multiple Relationships.)
Social Workers: NASW Code of Ethics
http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp[my comment: No time limit. Note the "extraordinary circumstances" part in section C--see my comment above]
1.09 Sexual Relationships
(a) Social workers should under no circumstances engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with current clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced.(b) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients' relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a close personal relationship when there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the client. Sexual activity or sexual contact with clients' relatives or other individuals with whom clients maintain a personal relationship has the potential to be harmful to the client and may make it difficult for the social worker and client to maintain appropriate professional boundaries. Social workers--not their clients, their clients' relatives, or other individuals with whom the client maintains a personal relationship--assume the full burden for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries.
(c) Social workers should not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with former clients because of the potential for harm to the client. If social workers engage in conduct contrary to this prohibition or claim that an exception to this prohibition is warranted because of extraordinary circumstances, it is social workers--not their clients--who assume the full burden of demonstrating that the former client has not been exploited, coerced, or manipulated, intentionally or unintentionally.
(d) Social workers should not provide clinical services to individuals with whom they have had a prior sexual relationship. Providing clinical services to a former sexual partner has the potential to be harmful to the individual and is likely to make it difficult for the social worker and individual to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Psychiatrists: Am. Psychiatric Assoc. code of ethics
http://www.psych.org/psych_pract/ethics/medicalethics2001_42001.cfm[my comment: No time limit. And, the wording here speaks to the issues we've been talking about]
The requirement that the physician conduct himself/herself with propriety in his/her profession and in all the actions of his/her life is especially important in the case of the psychiatrist because the patient tends to model his/her behavior after that of his/her psychiatrist by identification. Further, the necessary intensity of the treatment relationship may tend to activate sexual and other needs and fantasies on the part of both patient and psychiatrist, while weakening the objectivity necessary for control. Additionally, the inherent inequality in the doctorpatient relationship may lead to exploitation of the patient. Sexual activity with a current or former patient is unethical.
poster:noa
thread:336073
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040426/msgs/341525.html