GeneralCOMMENTARY

Protecting the profession: lessons from the recent physician scandals

R. Andrew Kelso, MA, PhD; Deborah Schmidt, DO; and Celia McLay, MS, DO
Notes and Affiliations
Notes and Affiliations

Received: July 2, 2024

Accepted: July 9, 2024

Published: August 29, 2024

  • R. Andrew Kelso, MA, PhD, 

    Department of Clinical Sciences,
    4518
    West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
    , Lewisburg, WV, USA

  • Deborah Schmidt, DO, 

    Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV, USA

  • Celia McLay, MS, DO, 

    Oregon Medical Group at Gateway Medical Center, Springfield, OR, USA

Abstract

Sexual abuse scandals in recent years have eroded some of the trust that is foundational for the physician–patient relationship. A closer analysis of some of these stories of abuse from the standpoint of medical professionalism, primarily utilizing the example of Larry Nassar, DO, yields potential ways in which instances of abuse may be reduced or eliminated. The goal of this paper is to elicit lessons that can be learned from these tragic sequences of events so that physicians, healthcare institutions, physician practices, medical boards, and even patients themselves can introduce measures that help prevent future stories like these.

Read Full Article