Sexual relationships between doctors and former patients

I am often struck by the difference in attitude taken to doctors who form relationships with patients and nurses who do the same.¹ If the classic instance of a doctor-patient relationship is a male doctor and a female patient, the classic instance of a nurse-patient relationship is that of a female nurse with a male patient. The former attracts censure and possible disqualification. The latter attracts warm hearted details and best wishes published in the local press, particularly when there are wedding bells.

What can account for this difference?

I have often felt that the power differential lies not so much between a male doctor and a competent and mature female patient. The power differential is between doctors and other men, who are conscious of the advantage a white coat brings in the mating ritual. I wonder how many cases are brought before the General Medical Council by disgruntled husbands.