The Next CTCMA Newsletter...

As seen on the CBC tonight (22nd May, 2009):
Don't molest/sexually assault your patients. Probably front page.
You'd think that would be already a given, but...
It's very sad to hear that the offender has a history of "inappropriate behaviour" (or as we call it 'round here rape) had only been reinstated as an acupuncturist after a suspension and was in fact stripped of his license as a Naturopathic Physician for this same problem. Safety of the public and the standing of our members and college needs to be paramount. I understand that some practitioners are falsely accused and the entire situation needs to be explored, but repeat offenders should never exist. Let's say I am accused of inappropriate behaviour and I'm eventually cleared. As I struggle to rebuild my life I would change the way that I practice so that I would, or could, never be accused ever again.

I'm not sure what we can do as a profession to prevent this, but a couple of things off the top of my head:
-if you are a man, hire a female desk worker just so that the presence is there
-be careful who you are alone with and how you are alone with them; this goes for men and women
-if I know you and you do this, I might take you into the woods for the wolves, let that be a deterrent.

It's sad to think that the state of the world necessitates potential changes to the way that we practice, but the public needs to feel safe and as practitioners we need to be aware not to put ourselves into situations that could destroy our practices, our families, our friends, everything. In my NADA training I was told never to be alone with any patient. Obviously this is because of the nature of the client.

I'd love to hear some more feedback from other practitioners about this. I'm not too sure what we can do about any of this, but ideas and discussion are never a bad thing.