Professional
abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other t ...
is "a pattern of conduct in which a person abuses, violates, or takes advantage of a victim within the context of the abuser's profession." This typically involves a violation of the relevant
professional organization
A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and th ...
's
code of ethics. Organizational ethics or standards of behavior require the maintenance of
professional boundaries
Professional boundaries are an important consideration in the relationship between any professional and their client.
Nurse-client boundaries
Boundaries are an integral part of the nurse-client relationship. They represent invisible structures i ...
and the treatment of people with respect and dignity.
Professional abuse involves those working in a facility were patients/clients are abused due to their vulnerability relying on professionals for assistance.
They are taken advantage of because of this leaving them treated unethically. This type of abuse isn’t noticed as much as other abuse because of the trust that these patients think they have for the abuser and the manipulation antics used upon them.
These types of situations tend to happen in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and many more health related facilities. It’s not just limited to these facilities however, It could also take place in offices that deal heavily with patients.
Forms of abuse
There are many forms of abuse:
discriminatory
Discrimination is the act of making unjustified distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong. People may be discriminated on the basis of race, gender, age, rel ...
,
financial
Finance is the study and discipline of money, currency and capital assets. It is related to, but not synonymous with economics, the study of production, distribution, and consumption of money, assets, goods and services (the discipline of f ...
,
physical
Physical may refer to:
* Physical examination, a regular overall check-up with a doctor
* ''Physical'' (Olivia Newton-John album), 1981
** "Physical" (Olivia Newton-John song)
* ''Physical'' (Gabe Gurnsey album)
* "Physical" (Alcazar song) (2004)
* ...
,
psychological
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries bet ...
, and
sexual.
Professional abuse always involves:
betrayal
Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship amongst individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations. ...
,
exploitation, and
violation of professional boundaries.
Professionals can abuse in three ways:
*
nonfeasance - ignore and take no indicated action - neglect.
*
misfeasance - take inappropriate action or give intentionally incorrect advice.
*
malfeasance - hostile, aggressive action taken to injure the client's interests.
Solutions
There are several strategies available to organizations seeking to address professional abuse. A study, for instance, revealed that this problem often arises when there is an extreme power imbalance between the professional and the victim. A framework based on different grades of client empowerment and ways of strengthening it can help solve the problem.
Those who have been subjected to professional abuse could also pursue any of the following courses of actions: lodging a complaint; reporting abuse to the police; and, taking legal action.
There are also organizations that can help those who are victimized learn more about their rights and the options available to them.
See also
Further reading
Books
* Dorpat Theodore L. ''
Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a colloquialism, loosely defined as manipulating someone so as to make them question their own reality. The term derives from the title of the 1944 American film '' Gaslight'', which was based on the 1938 British theatre play '' G ...
, the Double Whammy, Interrogation and Other Methods of Covert Control in Psychotherapy and Analysis'' (1996)
* Penfold, P. Susan ''
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse or sex abuse, also referred to as molestation, is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of another. Molestation often refers to an instance of sexual assa ...
by Health Professionals: A Personal Search for Meaning and Healing'' (1998)
* Peterson Marilyn R. ''At Personal Risk: Boundary Violations in Professional-Client Relationships'' (1992)
* Richardson, Sarah and Melanie Cunningham ''Broken Boundaries - stories of betrayal in relationships of care'' (2008)
* Sheehan Michael J. ''Eliminating professional abuse by managers'' - Chapter 12 of Bullying: from backyard to boardroom (1996)
Academic papers
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References
Abuse
Professional ethics
Institutional abuse
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