Extract from Clear Sexual Boundaries Between Healthcare Professionals and Patients: Responsibilities of Healthcare Professionals (CHRE, 2008; http://www.chre.org. uk/_img/pics/library/0801_Clear_Sexual_boundaries_professionals.pdf).

Examples of sexualised behaviour by healthcare professionals towards patients or their carers:

1. • asking for or accepting a date

2. • sexual humour during consultations or examinations

3. • inappropriate sexual or demeaning comments, or asking clinically irrelevant questions, for example about their body or underwear, sexual performance or sexual orientation

4. • requesting details of sexual orientation, history or preferences that are not necessary or relevant

5. • internal examination without gloves

6. • asking for, or accepting an offer of, sex

7. • watching a patient undress (unless a justified part of an examination)

8. • unnecessary exposure of the patient's body

9. • accessing a patient's or family member's records to find out personal information not clinically required for their treatment

10. • unplanned home visits with sexual intent

11. • taking or keeping photographs of the patient or their family that are not clinically necessary

12. • telling patients about their own sexual problems, preferences or fantasies, or disclosing other intimate personal details

13. • clinically unjustified physical examinations

14. • intimate examinations carried out without the patient's explicit consent

15. • continuing with examination or treatment when consent has been refused or withdrawn

16. • any sexual act induced by the healthcare professional for their own sexual gratification

17. • the exchange of drugs or services for sexual favours

18. • exposure of parts of the healthcare professional's body to the patient

19. • sexual assault.