When the Curtain is Drawn: How to Handle Accusations of Professional Misconduct

Even when completely false, accusations of inappropriate conduct can ruin a physician’s career. Here are five strategies for staying above reproach.

The recent arrest of a prominent emergency physician after accusations of inappropriate behaviors while treating patients in an emergency department have left many of us confused and on edge. Since the only facts of the case are those published in newspapers, we cannot draw any conclusions about the allegations, but must always keep in mind that anyone accused of any crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty. In addition, HIPAA prevents medical providers from publicly disclosing any information about a patient’s medical care or condition without express written permission, thereby prohibiting a public response to allegations of wrongdoing.

Even though our legal system provides every accused citizen with a presumption of innocence, hospital administrators, professional organizations, and the general public are often not so forgiving. The mere accusation of professional wrongdoing can easily wreak havoc on a physician’s career. One need only look through comment sections in newspaper articles about physicians accused of wrongdoing to see that public sentiment often presumes guilt, not innocence. A simple internet search shows multiple examples of physicians whose careers have been ruined by allegations of impropriety (references at the bottom).

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Sadly, there are few resources available to help physicians navigate accusations of inappropriate behavior. As we considered how to best discuss this topic, we thought it would be most appropriate to provide readers with some background on the personal and professional repercussions that may occur when an allegation of impropriety is made, how to minimize the chances of patients making such allegations, and some general suggestions on what to do if targeted by allegations of impropriety.

Effects of An Allegation of Impropriety
Perhaps the most immediate impact of an allegation of inappropriate behavior is the healthcare provider’s job security. Institutions put patient rights and concerns foremost and healthcare providers are often immediately removed from patient care duties when an accusation of misconduct is made. Most physician employment agreements contain language permitting the hospital or employer to terminate the physician’s contract for vague reasons, such as if a physician’s actions “are in any way detrimental to the reputation, character, or standing of the hospital or any of its employees” – leaving a physician one negative newspaper article away from losing his or her job. While a physician may ultimately be vindicated from any allegations, by that time the damage will likely be uncorrectable and long-lasting [2].

Professional impact of allegations of impropriety may range from becoming insecure with medical practices and losing confidence in one’s abilities to becoming completely unemployable. Social and reputational stigma may cause the accused physician to become socially isolated which impacts both family life and emotional stability. Financial strain in responding to such accusations may range from using up retirement savings to losing one’s home while attempting to defend against such allegations. Attorneys may be required to defend the physician against both civil and criminal complaints. Insurers may even void coverage for allegations of criminal wrongdoing and those same criminal allegations may result in incarceration.

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Professional effects of impropriety don’t end with one’s hospital privileges. State Medical Boards treat allegations of misconduct seriously and place a high priority on investigating any accusations of sexual misconduct. In addition, the Federation of State Medical Boards uses a broad definition of sexual impropriety to include “expressions of thoughts and feelings or gestures that are sexual or that reasonably may be construed by a patient or patient’s surrogate as sexual [3].” Some examples of sexual impropriety listed by the FSMB include “watching a patient dress or undress,” “inappropriate comments about or to patients,” “criticizing a patients’ sexual orientation,” “performing an intimate examination … without explaining the need for such examination,” and “touching breasts, genitals, or any sexualized body part for any purpose other than appropriate examination or treatment.” If a Board investigation determines that there is a “reasonable probability that the physician has engaged in sexual misconduct,” it will “take appropriate action to ensure the protection of the patient and the public at large.” The FSMB also notes that “findings of sexual misconduct are often sufficiently egregious as to warrant revocation of a physician’s medical license.” In other words, a physician is likely to have his or her license suspended if the State Medical Board believes that there is a reasonable possibility of misconduct and is likely to have his or her license revoked if the misconduct is proven. Loss of a physician’s license in one state will be reported to the National Practitioner Databank and will often prompt licensure actions in any other state where the physician is licensed.

Avoiding Accusations of Impropriety
While a basic cornerstone of the physician-patient relationship is trust, the best way of addressing accusations of professional misconduct is to avoid the accusations in the first place. While there is no way to prevent malicious patients from making untrue or exaggerated claims of inappropriate behavior, below are some suggestions from our editors to help minimize settings where patients may perceive inappropriate touching and to help a physician refute untrue claims. We also welcome all comments and suggestions from our readers for additional strategies.

Chaperone chaperone chaperone: Having a chaperone present any time a patient’s personal areas are examined is probably the best defense against accusations of inappropriate touching. In cases where a patient is uneasy about an exam, having two chaperones in the room may be reasonable. Note the names (or initials) of the chaperone in the medical records under the description of your exam. If the chaperone is a nurse, the chaperone should also make a chart entry noting that he or she was present for the exam. In addition, the chaperone should avoid leaving a physician in the room alone with the patient. If the chaperone leaves the room to get necessary supplies, walk out of the room as well and stand in the hallway where either someone can see you or where a security camera can visualize you. If a patient’s family members are waiting in the hallway while you perform your exam, comment to them that you are stepping out of the room to respect the patient’s privacy while the chaperone has left the room.

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Privacy but not seclusion: Even with a chaperone in the room, consider pulling curtains to give patients privacy, but also consider leaving the door open an inch or so. By leaving the door open, if anyone in the room calls for help, the voices will be more likely be heard down the hallway. If a patient’s family members are present, asking them to wait outside the door instead of in the waiting room during an exam may provide both the patient and family members with added peace of mind knowing that help is nearby.

Maintain separation: Allowing patients to remain gowned and covered by sheets when discussing the patient’s complaints and history can make patients feel less vulnerable. When performing an examination near any portion of a patient’s genitals (including the female breasts), wearing gloves not only provides a physical barrier to minimize spread of bacteria, but also provides the impression that the physician is being professional and not trying to take advantage of the patient. When palpating a female patient’s chest for pain (such as after a motor vehicle accident), the patient’s hands can be used as a barrier between the physician’s hands and the chest wall. Move the patient’s hands to different areas on the chest wall and then press through the patient’s fingers looking for pain. If necessary, a patient can also be asked to lift her breast tissue with her hand to allow for better auscultation of her heart.

Opt out: Patients who express uneasiness about a physician’s gender or about having an examination of sensitive areas can always opt out of that portion of the examination. If the examination is an important part of evaluating the patient’s presenting complaint, then the patient should ideally sign an informed refusal acknowledging that the physician discussed the risks of refusing this aspect of the exam and that the patient accepts any consequences or delays in diagnosis resulting from such refusal. Discussions of this nature are best made with at least one other witness in the room who can sign the informed refusal.

Follow policies: Hospitals may have policies regarding examination of patients and use of chaperones. It is always a good idea to review departmental or institutional policies to determine whether your actions are in compliance with hospital directives.

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What To Do If An Accusation Has Been Made
In most instances, complaints of impropriety can be investigated by the department director or hospital administration and quickly resolved. However, some complaints unfortunately become picked up by the media and quickly spiral out of control. In any case where an accusation of improper behavior may result in further action being taken against the physician, additional responses may be considered.

Many of the issues involving an accusation of impropriety involve legal questions. Probably the best initial step in combatting any allegation of improper professional behavior is to retain an attorney who is well-versed in employment law and health care related matters. Because a physician’s hospital privileges and licensure may be affected, early contact between legal counsel and hospital administration may help preserve the physician’s livelihood. The American Health Lawyers Association or a physician’s specific State Bar Association are two good places to look for attorney referrals. If criminal charges have been filed, it may be necessary to retain a criminal defense attorney as well. By retaining an attorney, any requests for interviews from investigators can be filtered through legal counsel. In high-stakes situations such as these, it is advisable not to discuss the case without an attorney present.

When accusations are published on social media or in the news, it may be tempting to respond to the allegations. Keep in mind that HIPAA prevents disclosure of a patient’s protected health information unless a permissible use under either 45 CFR 164.502 or 45 C.F.R. § 164.512 exists. Responding to allegations of impropriety in the media is not included within HIPAA’s permissible uses of protected health information. In addition, hospital policies often forbid health providers from discussing patient care issues online or in the media. If questioned about accusations online or in the media, the safest response is either no response at all, a simple denial of the allegations, or a referral to the hospital administration or to your attorney for comment. Do not be baited into attacking the accuser or providing unauthorized disclosure of the accuser’s protected health information.

In high-profile cases, it may be worthwhile to consider retaining a public relations consultant to assist in addressing the media barrage. This consultant would be considered a “business associate” under HIPAA and would therefore be subject to the same restrictions on disclosing protected health information as the physician and other covered entities.

Whether or not a formal complaint or a lawsuit has been filed, it would be wise to inform your malpractice carrier about any patient allegations of impropriety. Coverage for many insurance policies is bound when a claim is made or reported. By reporting an incident, not only are physicians able to bind coverage for the alleged event, but they are also able to access any resources the insurance company has available to defend against such accusations. In addition, the insurance company may be able to assign an attorney to assist in the physician’s defense.

Coping with the emotional repercussions from an accusation of professional malfeasance is more difficult. Pressures on an accused physician’s family may benefit from family crisis counseling. The American College of Emergency Physicians has no formal process in place to assist members who are having difficulty with stressful professional issues. The American Academy of Emergency Medicine has an informal process where its members may contact AAEM if the members are in a difficult situation and an AAEM Board Member will typically respond to offer general assistance. AAEM does not offer legal advice. State medical societies may offer referrals for professional counseling services and larger hospital systems may offer in-house peer counseling or wellness services which may help a physician transition through difficult emotional times. Private professional counseling services such as Physician Leadership or MD Mentor can also be considered. There are also hundreds of books available on Amazon about how to cope with physician stress.

Conclusion
Being accused of professional malfeasance often comes as a shock to the physician and can be a life- and career-altering event. Taking steps to minimize the patient’s perception of potential unprofessionalism and to maximize the patient’s privacy may help to decrease the chances of such accusations. If an accusation of impropriety has been made against you, don’t go it alone. Seek guidance to help you with the emotional, professional, and legal impacts that such accusations can cause.

REFERENCES

1. www.michigan.gov/documents/mdeh/sexual_boundaries_Between_Patients_and_Healthcare_Provider1_221316_7.pdf. Accessed Feb 12, 2016
2. https://www.fsmb.org/Media/Default/PDF/FSMB/Advocacy/GRPOL_Sexual%20Boundaries.pdf. Accessed Feb 12, 2016
3. www.ajustnhs.com/case-histories-of-victimised-nhs-staff/ http://www.Stories of NHS Staff/A Better NHS. Accessed Feb 12, 2016