Why is it unethical for a doctor to have romantic relationship with a patient

I understand that it' not therapeutic to seduce a patient. But what if it's not just transference or countertransference, what if it's real love?

As a dental student, I recently had a conversation with a friend about such a dilemma (albeit for a dentist, who's essentially a "mouth" doctor).

I believe that a doctor cannot have a romantic relationship with a patient if the "courtship" has occurred in a professional situation (ie: bedside, in a consulting room), nor can he/she use any information supplied in confidence (such as addresses or phone numbers) to contact the patient for the purposes of such a relationship. However, were the doctor to "court" this patient outside a professional situation (such as at the local pub, or at a music concert) then there is nothing ethically wrong about this, and the doctor would then be allowed to use any information supplied in this situation for the purposes of contacting the patient. If the patient says, "I gave you my phone number in the surgery this morning," the doctor should still insist on getting the number again - this will cover them in the case of an allegation of unprofessional conduct.

Even after this, both parties must be aware that in a professional situation, the professional doctor-patient relationship must be maintained, and the doctor must not use his/her position to gain any advantage or disadvantage to the patient that he/she is not normally entitled to. The burden of responsibility falls on the doctor, who has a "duty of care" over the patient.