Physician sexual misconduct and patients' responses.

The author reports on 16 patient interviews involving a gynecologist who conducted internal examinations in a sexually abusive manner. The unusual features of the examination included length of time, misuse of the physician's hands, absence of a nurse, and excessive use of lubricant. The majority of patients did not stop the examination because they believed something was medically wrong, they trusted that the physician was conducting an ethical examination, or they felt powerless to interrupt him. Many of the patients developed an aversion to gynecological health care after the incident. The author suggests that mental health professionals who will treat the abused or the abuser identify areas for prevention of sexual exploitation and for early psychiatric intervention.