ABSTRACT
The healing potential in the professional-patient relationship is facilitated by the inherent disparity in position, education, and power. Yet since its origin in prehistory, the healing profession has been shadowed by abuse of privilege. Sexual misconduct and offense are among the most common and egregious forms of abuse. Standards of conduct and ethical codes have been established to define ideals, expectations, and boundaries for health-care professionals. They sometimes fail to remain godlike and perfect in their discharge of duties, despite being held to these higher moral and ethical standards. For they are human and subject to the same maladies and shortcomings as the patients they serve.
