Ethical Boundaries with Patients & Colleagues
Treating people you already know, and the everyday risk of favouritism, real, distinct territory from romantic boundary violations. Grounded in current GMC guidance and real, documented ethical dilemmas, not a generic conduct checklist.
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Course Content
Is this you?
We wrote this for three kinds of regulated professional. Most people reading this are at least one of them.
You want real clarity on treating people you already know.
A family member, a friend, a colleague's relative, real, current guidance on the specific risks this creates, not a vague "avoid it" rule.
You're addressing a concern involving favouritism or preferential treatment.
Genuine, evidence-based understanding of why objectivity matters, and how to recognise when it's genuinely at risk.
You're building a genuinely well-rounded CPD portfolio.
Dual relationships and favouritism, covered properly, alongside the wider professional boundaries and probity library.
This isn't about romance, it's about objectivity.
A real, documented case: a woman visiting family abroad was diagnosed with a kidney condition, and several of her own relatives, all practising physicians, became informally involved in her care, sharing results over WhatsApp, discussing treatment without formal records. No romantic or sexual element was involved anywhere in this case. The genuine concern was compromised objectivity and confidentiality, arising purely from already knowing the patient.
A newer, broader framework
Real 2024 GMC guidance explicitly covers boundaries with colleagues, not only patients.
This courseObjectivity, not attraction
International guidance discourages treating family, the risk is compromised judgement, not impropriety.
This courseFavouritism, without romance
Real regulator guidance treats preferential treatment as its own, separate boundary concern.
This courseThe wider library
Alongside Professional Boundaries in Health and Social Care, and Social Media & Digital Professional Boundaries.
What it covers, and why
Course description
A CPD course on dual relationships and favouritism, the real, everyday boundary risk of treating people you already know, and the ethics of preferential treatment, grounded in current GMC guidance and real, documented ethical dilemmas, not a generic conduct checklist.
Why it's relevant
Most professional boundaries content focuses on romantic or sexual violations. Real, current guidance covers genuinely wider ground, treating family and friends, and favouritism with patients or colleagues, without any romantic dimension at all. This course explains that wider standard properly.
How it improves your practice
You'll finish able to recognise the real, specific risks of treating someone you already know, understand why favouritism is assessed as a genuine boundary concern in its own right, and apply a genuine, practical self-check before agreeing to care for, or make decisions about, someone with a personal connection to you.
What it covers
The course runs across four modules:
- Why this is a different kind of boundary, the real, current 2024 guidance framework
- Treating people you already know, real risks and a real documented case
- Favouritism and preferential treatment, with patients and with colleagues
- A practical framework for dual relationships and favouritism
Who it's for
Any regulated health or social care professional, across every UK regulator. Genuinely relevant whether you're addressing an active concern, or simply want to understand this properly before you're ever in that position, particularly in smaller communities or close-knit teams where this risk is genuinely more common.
Related courses
This course stands on its own. It pairs naturally with courses that share the same real-world territory:
- You want the broader professional boundaries picture — add Professional Boundaries in Health and Social Care.
- The concern involves an online interaction — add Social Media & Digital Professional Boundaries.
- You're working on demonstrating restored trust — add Rebuilding Trust with Patients & Regulators.
Every course above is standalone and priced individually.
Everything included
14 lessons across 4 modules, self-paced, around 2 hours
Three short knowledge checks, plus a final 12-question assessment (80% to pass, unlimited retakes)
Downloadable certificate of completion, permanent access
Reviewed by qualified professionals for accuracy
No expiry, revisit any time
Questions about this course
Is this course only relevant if I'm facing a concern?
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Does this course count as CPD?
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Is this course relevant to my specific regulator?
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How is this different from your other Professional Boundaries course?
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I work in a small community or close-knit team, is this course still relevant?
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How long does the course take, and is it self-paced?
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Is there an assessment, and what happens if I don't pass?
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How quickly can I start after enrolling?
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Still have a question? Email us and we'll get back to you.
