What will you do if a patient falls in love with her doctor?!

What will you do if a patient falls in love with her doctor?

I was treating a female patient in her 30's for minor injuries caused by a vehicular accident. She was eventually sent home, but I advised her to come back after a week for the sutures to be removed.

After a week, she came back to the out patient with a big smile, cupcakes and sodas, thanking me for treating her so gently. I took it as a complement so I accepted her gift.

The week after, she sent flowers, home baked cookies, and a card which contained poems about love and romance. I told her that I am already in a relationship, but she kept coming back to my clinic, and even expressed that my partner did not have to know about her. What will I do?

You handle this the same way you'd handle the unwanted attentions of any female - with kindness, firmness and tact. Tell her in no uncertain terms that while you find this flattering you are not available and not interested in starting an extra relationship. You'll be happy to continue the professional relationship but that's all it can be. Do not see this patient without a female medical assistant present at all times. Return on the spot any further gifts, do not accept them. Do not accept her phone calls unless they pertain to her medical care. Eventually, she'll get over her infatuation. If she does not, give her the 30-day notice and hand her over to some one else. You know the protocol to avoid abandonment. If you're in a group practice, is there a female physician who can treat her instead?

You didn't mention what your job is. Tell us. If you're not a doctor, you won't have to worry about abandonment.