A Kiwi GP has been found in breach of professional boundaries by having an affair with a married man, while he, his wife and their children were her registered patients.
According to the report, released by Commissioner Anthony Hill on Monday, the man, his wife and their three children were registered patients of the unidentified GP at an unnamed medical centre.
The report found the GP had breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (the Code) for failing to maintain professional boundaries with a patient.
After becoming Facebook friends and beginning to develop a personal relationship on social media, the GP transferred her patient to another doctor at the practice. She argued during the investigation that she had "no relationship" with the man at this point. Despite him being transferred, his wife and the children remained registered as her patients.
Around two months later in November 2018, the man informed his wife that he was having an affair and was leaving her. The wife, who was distraught, booked an appointment for a medical certificate with the medical centre and an appointment was made with the adulterous GP.
On learning of the wife's appointment, the GP "panicked" and informed the man that his wife was coming to see her and she was fearful for her safety, according to the report.
During the investigation, the GP said she had an "emotional attraction or attachment" to her patient, but claimed there was no physical relationship until January 2019 - by that time, the man had moved out of his family home, she argued.
The GP was found to have "failed to comply with professional and ethical standards" by breaching professional boundaries with a current patient; forming a relationship with the man while she was his wife and children's doctor, in a circumstance where the relationship could have impacted negatively on their care; and breaching the woman's confidentiality by disclosing details of her appointment to her husband.
"[The GP] should have been aware that forming a personal relationship with [the man] could impact negatively on [the wife's] care and that of the children," Hill said in a statement on Monday.
The GP has been advised to enter a one-year mentoring relationship with a senior colleague to ensure she maintains appropriate boundaries with patients and their families. It has also been recommended that she issues a written apology to the wife and her family.
The medical centre was not found to be in breach.
