Bad apples research - the vast majority of healthcare professionals work with dedication and integrity and are committed to the best possible patient care. However, in a small minority of cases healthcare professionals have seriously breached sexual boundaries with patients or their carers. These types of cases can undermine the trust and confidence we place in healthcare professionals. We have funded ground-breaking research into professional misconduct which identified three types of perpetrators. Read the report Bad apples? Bad barrels? Or bad cellars? Antecedents and processes of professional misconduct in UK health and social care
Keeping safe/report a concern
If patients seeing a health professional feel concerned about the way they are being treated or the way a professional is behaving towards them they should tell the health professional if they feel able - discuss it with another health professional, health manager or employer or seek advice from the regulator or accredited register.
Read our advice about what to do if you think a professional has crossed a line.
Our research in practice
Find out more about our research work in practice and how it can contribute to improving regulation in this short case study.
Fitness to practise case studies on sexual misconduct
See these case studies about sexual misconduct in cases we have appealed as part of our section 29 powers: