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Patients who stalk doctors: their motives and management

Michele T Pathé, Paul E Mullen and Rosemary Purcell
Med J Aust 2002; 176 (7): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2002.tb04435.x
Published online: 1 April 2002

There is persuasive anecdotal evidence that healthcare professionals have a heightened vulnerability to being stalked by their patients. This is supported by an overrepresentation of healthcare professionals in stalking-victim populations.1 Some stalking behaviours constitute little more than minor irritations, but more serious cases can ruin a clinician's career. Rarely, but tragically, stalking has cost some doctors their lives.


  • Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, Fairfield, VIC.


Correspondence: antistalking@ozemail.com.au

Competing interests:

None declared.

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