Categories of Sexual Misconduct by ABFM Certified or Eligible Physicians, 2016–2022
| Category | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Communication that did not occur in person | Electronicommunication (phone, social media, etc.) or other (postal mailing) with no physical presence with victim | Physician made late-night phone calls asking patient personal information that was sexual in nature. Later texted an apology but continued to reach out to initiate an intimate relationship with patient |
| Sexual impropriety | In person behavior that consist of gestures, or expressions that are seductive, sexually suggestive, disrespectful of patient privacy, or sexually demeaning to a patient or employee/colleague | Physician observed to ask patients inappropriate questions that were sexual in nature, such as commenting on the patient’s breast size |
| Sexual relationship | Repeated or ongoing sexual behavior with one or more patients, employee(s), and/or colleague(s) | Physician engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with a female patient on multiple occasions in his home, including kissing, oral sex, and vaginal intercourse |
| Sexual relationship with additional behaviors | Sexual relationship that is confounded by controlled substance prescribing, bartering, etc. | Physician admitted to a prolonged, sexually intimate relationship with a patient to whom he also prescribed multiple controlled substances |
| Unwanted sexual behaviors/Assault | Unwanted physical sexual contact initiated by the physician. Any conduct with a patient that is sexual or may be reasonably interpreted as sexual. Also includes any cases that involved accusations of criminal sexual assault with or without conviction(s) | During a visit for treatment of hypertension, physician fondled a patient’s breasts, put his hand down her pants and manipulated her external genitalia |
| Minors | Sexual misconduct involving minors | Committed lewd acts upon children under the age of 16 |
Abbreviation: ABFM, American Board of Family Medicine.