Responding to Sexual Boundary Notifications: The Evolving Regulatory Approach in Australia

A sexual boundary violation by a health practitioner has an immense impact on a patient, and the trust and confidence in the health care system and the health care regulator are negatively affected. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) in 2017 commissioned an independent review in response to a specific high-profile case of multiple physician-patient* sexual boundary violations. In response to recommendations for process improvement, Ahpra and the MBA worked to transform the regulatory management of sexual boundary notifications.The purpose of this paper is to explore the structural and cultural changes that have been made to manage sexual boundary violation notifications and lessons learned through the process. Three factors — specialized decision-making, training for investigators and policy and cultural changes — were identified as key elements of the change process. Since the changes in 2017, the rate of immediate regulatory action taken in response to sexual boundary notifications has increased substantially, with a higher proportion of decisions resulting in suspension of a physician’s registration. Further work on the experience of those who are part of the notification process and supporting people to share their stories and experiences through the notification and tribunal process is ongoing.