If you work in healthcare, can you date your patient once they are discharged? What if the feeling developed while the patient is under your care?

[Princesspd]

[OlderAndWiser]

There are two - and sometimes three - sets of rules that govern healthcare workers in these situations. If they are a professional, such as a physician or nurse, their profession may have a set of ethical rules to which adherence is expected but not mandatory. There is undoubtedly a set of conduct rules proscribed by the state licensing board and those rules are legally enforceable. Finally, the employer may have its own policies about these matters, and which are not enforceable in a strict legal sense but violation of the rules would be grounds for termination.

So the answer to your question depends on the state in which this occurs, the profession involved, and the identity of the professional's employer.

[msc545]

No, you cannot date patients, discharged or not. If the feeling develops while the person is your patient, you transfer their care to another provider and you immediately forget you ever knew them. Providers often lose their license over things like this and often get sued as well.

[Princesspd]

Just curious because my sister is a PA and she has dated three of her patients after they were discharged.

[msc545]

Very bad idea

[zagor]

Sure. Like teacher can date a student who is no longer in their class (assuming they are an adult).

[RedInnocent69]

I think so, if they’re not a current patient. Probably better to have a cooling off period though.

[andy530]

In my field you can’t until after 2 years of being discharged but even then it’s frowned on

[JTinSC1981]

The answer is yes in almost all cases.

[JonCobretti]

Of course, who's stopping you?

[DrPepper12]

Yes. No ethical problems at all.