From Patients to Partners: Ethical Complexities of Maintaining Professional Boundaries in a Digital Age: Ethics of Professional Boundaries in Digital Age

Authors

Shannon Hanggodo, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine
Timothy Klufas, New York Medical College
Simran Saini, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine
Albert E. Zhou, UConn School of Medicine
Gillian Weston, UConn School of Medicine
Jane M. Grant-Kels, UConn School of Medicine

Author Type(s)

Student

DOI

10.1016/j.clindermatol.2025.02.006

Journal Title

Clinics in Dermatology

First Page

723

Last Page

725

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2025

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Professional ethics prohibit physicians from dating current patients due to risks of exploitation, compromised objectivity, and power imbalances, conflicting with obligations of beneficence and nonmaleficence. Online dating applications or appls" complicate these boundaries, as a physician's online presence may inadvertently enable patient encounters outside professional contexts. To maintain ethical standards, physicians should avoid sharing identifiable information on dating platforms, ensure patient care is transferred before pursuing romantic relationships, and adhere to institutional policies that mitigate risks and uphold transparency.

Recommended Citation

Hanggodo, S., Klufas, T., Saini, S., Zhou, A., Weston, G., & Grant-Kels, J. (2025). From Patients to Partners: Ethical Complexities of Maintaining Professional Boundaries in a Digital Age: Ethics of Professional Boundaries in Digital Age. Clinics in Dermatology, 43 (5), 723-725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2025.02.006