TY - JOUR T1 - Turning a blind eye to crime: health professionals and the Sexual Offences Act 2003 JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 64 LP - 65 DO - 10.3399/bjgp10X482239 VL - 60 IS - 570 AU - Tony Hope AU - Sally Hope AU - Charles Foster Y1 - 2010/01/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/60/570/64.abstract N2 - The Sexual Offences Act 2003 defines over 50 crimes. Doctors will become aware of crimes committed by, or on, their patients under the Act, particularly with regard to teenage patients and those with mental disorders. We argue that the exercise of professional judgment is crucial in deciding whether to report such crimes and that the key question is whether there has been abuse.Two 15 year olds sit in the back row at their local cinema holding hands. One offers popcorn to the other. They sneak a kiss.A 79-year-old woman, X, who was widowed aged 30 years, developed Alzheimer's disease 3 years ago. Twenty years ago she developed a sexual relationship with a near neighbour, Y. They live in their separate houses, have never married, but mutually enjoy their sexual relationship. A year ago X was referred to social services for more home support. The carer, who now has a key, walked in to find X and Y in bed together. The carer reported the incident to her line manager, who contacted social services. Social services assessed X as lacking capacity to consent to sex. The next day the police arrive on Y's doorstep.A 14-year-old girl visits her GP and is found to be pregnant. She lets slip the name of her boyfriend. The doctor, fresh from a lunchtime lecture on the Sexual Offences Act, informs both police and social services of the crime that his patient and the youth have committed.In all three cases a crime under the Sexual Offences Act may have been committed. Should health professionals report these crimes to the police?This Act identifies about 55 separate sexual offences. Sections 9 to 15 are relevant to the first and third of the cases above. Box 1 gives some of the key wording from … ER -