CONSENT ISN’T POSSIBLE

agencies like licensing boards are in the business — to some extent — of keeping things quiet and that is the rocket fuel behind the continuation of the behavior.”

Consensual or not, sexual encounters between patients and their doctors have always been prohibited on ethical grounds.

About 22%, or 57 of the 256 doctors disciplined for misconduct, claimed they had consensual sexual or romantic relationships with one or more patients or a pediatric patient’s parent.

One such case in northwest Ohio led to significant changes in ethics rules. In 1997, Dr. Gary Gladieux was accused of having sex with the mothers of seven patients over multiple years.

The medical board suspended the pediatrician’s license for two years.

Gladieux at the time said the sex was consensual and did not affect patient care. He unsuccessfully fought the medical board in court, arguing that no specific policy banned the relationships.

The case garnered national attention when it prompted the American Medical Association in 1998 to say it is unethical for doctors to have sex or engage in romantic relationships with their patients’ spouses, parents, guardians or surrogates. The American Academy of Pediatrics in August 1999 formally issued a similar policy.

The board reinstated Gladieux’s license in 2001 and he continues to practice medicine today. He did not respond to multiple requests to comment.

“We don’t want professionals who are licensed to care for people who are vulnerable to take advantage of that power they have over people, period,” Murphy said. “That’s why it has to be made public . ... We the people have the right to pass judgment on that doctor who’s exploiting his power that we the people have bestowed upon him.”