Do you think it is unethical to date a doctor, get a few consultations and then ghost them?

[Kaamraj]

A friend of mine is a doctor and on social media got hit up by a girl who asked for his number. They chatted for about two months and in that time she consulted him over many medical issues mostly hormonal, nutritional, and mental health. He estimates that she took about 10 clinical consultations / sessions from him without paying a dime. At the time he says he didn't think anything of it as he was interested in the girl and everything was going well. But suddenly one day she just disappeared in thin air, blocked him on social media, blocked his number and was gone. Do you think it's ethical?

Unethical - the sole purpose before ghosting was to get free consultations

Ethical - Dating a doctor or other professional comes with the added benefit.

Cannot say

[SakuraBlossoms87]

As someone who works in medical as a specialist I have to say it's more common than you think. It's unethical by her. But it is also VERY stupid behavior by him. If she goes around saying Dr So & So told me this & has a BAD reaction to it, she could sue him.

This sort of behavior is also why most medical businesses & governing colleges don't like medical professionals like doctors, psychologists, etc. having relations with patients. Not only is doctor warping care of trust but it is opening up for lawsuits, etc.

.

But to take a different spin on this

I have even known women who have FAKED experience in the same medical profession to try and relate with a medical professional further.

A very good friend is a pharmacist as example.

His girlfriend says she was a licensed pharmacy technician - one step below a pharmacist - in another country but her inability to do the most basic of pharmacy related things (organizing shelves is a universal practice from India to England to America, etc.) makes her nothing but a liar in my eyes and that's furthered by the fact she doesn't have any in-dept pharmaceutical understanding like a real tech would.

[SakuraBlossoms87]

To elaborate on the first 2 paragraphs it also becomes a mess for disciplinarily actions.

Your friend after all BY LAW should NEVER, EVER disclose medical treatment or options to someone who is NOT his patient as if she IS a patient. Because he does not know her medical history, any potential risk factors, allergies, etc.

[NotTacocaT6969]

Yes, that’s called using someone and it’s messed up.

[zeitgeist057]

We have his/your side of the story, but what about hers? Who can say if she was really using him for free consultation? Maybe he did or said something offensive to her and she decided to ghost. People are weird and get triggered by all sorts of things. For all we know, he used his social media to comment on a female family member's post and she saw it and thought it was his new girlfriend, got jealous and ghosted. It's not even that out of the question to come up with a dozen or more simple scenarios like that, none of which would have anything to do with him being a doctor.

[ManOnFire]

So using the terminology "unethical" in this situation sounds more like that being on the side of the doctor, but he didn't really do anything unethical. I think maybe it was stupid for him to give her all those free consultations, just because he knew she "liked" him and he obviously liked her back. But hopefully it'll be a lesson for him not to want to give somebody perks just because you like them, especially on social media. Next time he should tell the person to come on in to his office for a consultation if they want to talk.

[OfMiceandMen]

I would say more sleazy then unethical. Unethical would be if the Doctor did something to a patient, like touch them inappropriately or date one of their patients.

I gather he (The Dr.) learned his lesson about shelling out free advice to people that "befriend" him.

[TomMarks]

I think it is but otherwise it’s just plain stupid. What if you later on have to depend on that doctor for something more serious. I’d like to think they wouldn’t bend their oath then and still do everything they can, but would you really want to risk it?

[Twalli]

My mom helps her friends and family with medical issues. My aunt helped me with the latest medicines for COVID-19 prevention before they were even released to the public. It seems odd that she just decided that he was of no more use to her, so I don't understand why she'd ghost him if dating a doctor was to her benefit.

[msc545]

He did this of his own free will and was not coerced by anything except his own sexual desires. No sympathy here - women do this kind of shit to men all the time. He hopefully learned a valuable lesson - to not mix personal desires and professional business.

[ilovelamp]

Not sure about the ethics here, but an intimate doctor patient relationship it is Taboo.In the case you posted about it sounds and looks like she just used him.

[WindAtMyBack]

They intentionally mislead someone about their intentions and motives. So yea it's unethical.

[tiajoka]

It’s very possible that wasn’t her intent.

I will say doctors tend to be awkward and there might’ve been things he didn’t pick up on. I feel bad for them as I know dating is hard.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

The whole thing of dating is love, not pretending to enjoy the romantic rendezvous and then changing the mind that quickly. I mean, if You’re planning to ghost them, that ain’t a legit date.

[ColHathi]

We can't know for certain what the reason was, but ghosting is unethical, in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Doctors are on to this scam and will usually only answer one medical question before dumping the girl.

[Mangospacho]

I think the Hippocratic oath applies to them dating too so, if they can’t do harm, then they will be excellent girlfriends.

[David4358]

the fact that she was talking to him about her mental issues should clue him in on this is not a good situation for dating

[zagor]

LOL well at least it didn't actually put him out any money, which might have happened if he had gotten more involved with the gold-digger.

[Anonymous]

honestly props to her. if i could pull a doctor i'd do the same lmao

[mommymommy]

If you're doing it because you think it'll be free to do it, then yes

[NostalgiaSenpi]

He's stupid in the fact that he did that that for free.

[noohair]

The new normal. Social Media has ruined dating and courtship.

[TheApatheticGuy]

I think heartless or inconsiderate is a better word.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if it’s unethical, but I think ghosting is

[Kathie93]

Very unethical for both parties