Professional abuse

Professional abusers are the individuals that prey on the weaknesses of others in their workplaces or in other places related to economical strands of society. Their fundamental behavior is based in the following actions:

• taking advantage of their client or patient's trust
• exploiting their vulnerability
• not acting in their best interests
• failing to keep professional boundaries

There are many forms of abuse. It may be:

• discriminatory
• financial
• physical
• psychological
• sexual

Professional abuse always involves:

• betrayal
• exploitation
• 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.

See also

2

Further reading

Books

• Dorpat Theodore L. Gaslighting, the Double Whammy, Interrogation and Other Methods of Covert Control in Psychotherapy and Analysis (1996) ISBN 9781568218281
• Penfold, P. Susan Sexual Abuse by Health Professionals: A Personal Search for Meaning and Healing (1998) ISBN 9781442679832
• Peterson Marilyn R. At Personal Risk: Boundary Violations in Professional-Client Relationships (1992) ISBN 9780393701388
• Richardson, Sarah and Melanie Cunningham Broken Boundaries - stories of betrayal in relationships of care (2008) ISBN 9780955852008
• Sheehan Michael J. Eliminating professional abuse by managers - Chapter 12 of Bullying: from backyard to boardroom (1996) ISBN 9780393701388