Section 246-922-600. Sexual misconduct.

(1) Definitions:

(a) "Patient" means a person who is receiving health care or treatment, or has received health care or treatment without a termination of the podiatric physician-patient relationship. The determination of when a person is a patient is made on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to a number of factors, including the nature, extent and context of the professional relationship between the podiatric physician and the person. The fact that a person is not actively receiving treatment or professional services is not the sole determining factor.

(b) "Podiatric physician" means a person licensed to practice podiatric medicine and surgery under chapter 18.22 RCW.

(c) "Key third party" means a person in a close personal relationship with the patient and includes, but is not limited to, spouses, domestic partners, parents, siblings, children, guardians and proxies.

(2) A podiatric physician shall not engage in sexual misconduct with a current patient or a key third party. A podiatric physician engages in sexual misconduct when he or she engages in the following behaviors with a patient or key third party:

(a) Sexual intercourse or genital to genital contact;

(b) Oral to genital contact;

(c) Genital to anal contact or oral to anal contact;

(d) Kissing in a romantic or sexual manner;

(e) Touching breasts, genitals or any sexualized body part for any purpose other than appropriate examination or treatment;

(f) Examination or touching of genitals without using gloves;

(g) Not allowing a patient the privacy to dress or undress;

(h) Encouraging the patient to masturbate in the presence of the podiatric physician or masturbation by the podiatric physician while the patient is present;

(i) Offering to provide practice-related services, such as medication, in exchange for sexual favors;

(j) Soliciting a date;

(k) Engaging in a conversation regarding the sexual history, preferences or fantasies of the podiatric physician.

(3) A podiatric physician shall not engage in any of the conduct described in subsection (2) of this section with a former patient or key third party if the podiatric physician:

(a) Uses or exploits the trust, knowledge, influence, or emotions derived from the professional relationship; or

(b) Uses or exploits privileged information or access to privileged information to meet the podiatric physician's personal or sexual needs.

(4) To determine whether a patient is a current patient or a former patient, the board will analyze each case individually, and will consider a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Documentation of formal termination;

(b) Transfer of the patient's care to another health care provider;

(c) The length of time that has passed;

(d) The length of time of the professional relationship;

(e) The extent to which the patient has confided personal or private information to the podiatric physician;

(f) The nature of the patient's health problem;

(g) The degree of emotional dependence and vulnerability.

(5) This section does not prohibit conduct that is required for medically recognized diagnostic or treatment purposes if the conduct meets the standard of care appropriate to the diagnostic or treatment situation.

(6) It is not a defense that the patient, former patient, or key third party initiated or consented to the conduct, or that the conduct occurred outside the professional setting.

(7) A violation of any provision of this section shall constitute grounds for disciplinary action.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.22.015, 18.130.050 and 18.130.180. WSR 07-12-092, § 246-922-600, filed 6/6/07, effective 7/7/07.]

RCW 18.22.015, 18.130.050 and 18.130.180. WSR 07-12-092, § 246-922-600, filed 6/6/07, effective 7/7/07.