<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 10.26.03.05" title_num="10" subtitle_num="26" chapter_num="03" heading="Professional Boundaries.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The licensee shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Maintain professional boundaries, even when the patient initiates crossing the boundaries of the professional relationship;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Respect and maintain professional boundaries and respect the patient's reasonable expectation of professional conduct; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If the licensee and the patient mutually desire a personal relationship, immediately terminate the professional relationship, make an appropriate referral to another health care practitioner, and wait before engaging in such a relationship for a time when it is reasonably certain that the professional relationship has no influence on the personal relationship.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The licensee may not:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Exploit a relationship with a patient for the licensee's personal advantage, including, but not limited to, a personal, sexual, romantic, or financial relationship;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Engage in a sexually intimate act with a patient; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Engage in sexual misconduct which includes behavior in which a licensee has engaged in sexual behavior with a patient in the context of a professional evaluation, treatment, procedure, or other service to the patient, regardless of the setting in which the professional service is provided.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>