Professional Sexual Misconduct:

Sexual misconduct and enactment.

Sexual misconduct remains a significant problem in the behavioral health professions. Although it is tempting to view sexual misconduct as perpetrated by "bad" clinicians against patients who are "victims," this is an oversimplification of a complex problem. In this article, the author explores the psychoanalytic concept of enactment as a mechanism that can lead well-meaning clinicians to engag...

Professional competence and professional misconduct in South Africa.

High-profile attention has recently been given to the problem of surgical competence of a few cardiothoracic surgeons and to abuse of limited private practice by some full-time state-employed doctors. These issues raise questions about the adequacy of postgraduate training facilities, the rigor with which new specialists are evaluated before being allowed to enter practice, and the need for acc...

A Theory of Discipline for Professional Misconduct

Precursors to Therapist Sexual Misconduct Preliminary Findings

This article presents preliminary findings on the characteristics of and predisposing factors in therapists engaging in sexual intimacies with patients. Data were derived from comprehensive evaluations, consultations, supervisions, or analytically oriented treatments. Particularly salient were frequent misunderstandings of, rationalizations about, or defensive transformations of love and hate i...

Reconsideration of Sexual Misconduct by Clergy

In the last decade, concerns about clergy counselors' liability for malpractice has focused on allegations of sexual abuse. Thus far, courts have not adjudicated a complaint of clergy malpractice. Their reasons have centered on concern for freedom of religion under the First Amendment. Therefore, there is a need to find another way to deal with the obvious reality that violating others' rights ...