The study also revealed a lack of confidence in organizations like the NHS Trust, the General Medical Council, and the Royal Colleges to address the issue.
A recent poll found that over the previous five years, colleagues in the UK have sexually harassed and, in some cases, raped female surgeons. The study, which was shared with the BBC and published in the British Journal of Surgery (BJS), looked at sexual behavior among UK surgeons during a five-year period. It was discovered that nearly one in three female surgeons employed by the NHS (National Health Service) have experienced sexual assault at the hands of coworkers.
According to the study, 1,434 registered surgeons—both men and women—responded. Participation was fully anonymous. According to the study, 30% of female surgeons who replied claimed to have been sexually assaulted. Additionally, 29% of women reported having had unwanted physical advances at work, over 40% had endured unwanted comments about their bodies, and 38% had engaged in sexual “banter” at work.
According to a study cited by the BBC, “90% of women and 81% of men had witnessed some form of sexual misconduct.”
According to the survey’s findings, male and female doctors “live different realities.” Due to a combination of a highly hierarchical structure and a power and gender imbalance, sexual misbehavior commonly happens and seems to go unnoticed in the surgical workplace. As a result, the area becomes unsafe for both employees and patients, according to The Guardian.
The study also revealed a lack of confidence in organizations like the NHS Trust, the General Medical Council, and the Royal Colleges to address the issue. Only 15.1% of women thought the GMC handled sexual misconduct adequately. Trusts under the National Health Service received relatively poor ratings. Only 15.8% of women and 44.9% of males thought they were adequate.
According to Professor Carrie Newlands, consultant surgeon from the University of Surrey, “We need a major change in investigation processes so they become external, independent, and trusted in order for healthcare to become a safer place to work.”
Send in a remark The survey also stated that workplace harassment for employees could be harmful to their physical and mental health, with some incidents even resulting in self-harm and suicidal thoughts. The researchers urged action to “create adequate mechanisms to deal with perpetrators” and to change the culture of the surgical staff.
