When reporting on incidences of abuse and/or systems failures within the Irish healthcare system it can be useful to refer to how these issues are managed in other jurisdictions. In this section we have collated guidelines and regulations from countries such as UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. They have had similar cases of patient abuse (sexual, physical and financial) in their countries and these are the results of how they now manage this issue:
UK
• Clinic for Boundary Studies (UK)
(hyperlink to http://www.professionalboundaries.org.uk/Home.aspx)
• Health Professions Council (UK): Protecting the Public, regulating health professionals
(hyperlink to: http://www.hpc-uk.org/)
• Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (UK): Clear sexual boundaries between
healthcare professionals and patients: responsibilities of healthcare professionals
(Hyperlink to: http://www.hpc-uk.org/assets/documents/100027E9CHRE_Sexual_boundariesprofessionals.pdf)
• Clinic for Boundary Studies (UK) Code of Ethics
(hyperlink to: http://www.professionalboundaries.org.uk/getdoc/d239927f-cf62-4209-beb8- d63624433bdf/The-Clinic-for-Boundaries-Studies-Code-of-Ethics–.aspx)
Australia
• The Nursing Centre (Australia) – Nurses Guide to Professional Boundaries
(hyperlink to: http://www.thenursingcentre.com.au/node/181)
New Zealand
• As mentioned earlier, The Medical Council of New Zealand have published a guideline document for doctors which provides clear instruction on how to deal with this issue and explains the prevailing reporting and support structure. (hyperlink to: http://www.worldcat.org/title/sexual-boundaries-in-the-doctor-patient-relationship-a-resource-for-doctors/oclc/156763978?title=&detail=&page=frame&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mcnz.org.nz%2Fportals%2F0%2FGuidance%2FSexual%255FBoundaries.pdf%26checksum%3Db2cf574422e0ff23fb7a814aa681a023&linktype=digitalObject)
Canada
• College of Physiotherapists Ontario: Mandatory Reporting Obligations Sexual Abuse of Patients (hyperlink to: http://www.collegept.org/Patients/Professional%20Conduct/Mandatory%20Reports/ReportingSexualAbuseJune4)
USA
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (USA) – Professional Boundaries Guide
(hyperlink to https://www.ncsbn.org/Professional_Boundaries_2007_Web.pdf)
• Federation of State Medical Boards (USA) – Addressing Sexual Boundaries: Guidelines for State Medical Boards
(hyperlink to: http://www.fsmb.org/pdf/GRPOL_Sexual%20Boundaries.pdf)
Should you have any more details questions, we are delighted to assist you. Click here (hyperlink to section 5.6) to contact us.