Delusional misidentification of health care professionals.

Delusional misidentification of others generally involves a person misidentifying others who are emotionally and geographically proximate to that person. Health care professionals may become the objects of delusional misidentification. The present study reviews and analyzes the anglophonic literature on published reports of misidentified health care professionals and adds two new cases. Relevant issues raised when patients misidentify health care professionals are explored, particularly the danger posed by these misidentification delusions.