NHS’ #MeToo: How UK surgeons were sexually assaulted by their colleagues

Nearly one in three female surgeons working in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS) have been sexually assaulted in the last five years, according to a survey. About 1,436 responses to an anonymous online survey compiled by the University of Exeter have revealed that 63 per cent of women and 23 per cent of men have been sexually harassed by colleagues. Published in the British Journal of Surgery (BJS), the “shocking” study has been described as a “#MeToo movement for surgery”. Let’s take a closer look. Sexual abuse in NHS According to the report, 30 per cent of female surgeons said they were sexually assaulted by a colleague, while almost 11 per cent had experienced “forced physical contact for career opportunities”. On the other hand, about 6.9 per cent of male surgeons said they had been sexually assaulted. At least 11 incidents of rape were found, BBC reported citing the study. Over 40 per cent of women had come across uninvited comments about their bodies and 38 per cent were subjected to sexual “banter” at work, as per The Guardian. As many as 89.5 per cent of women said they had witnessed sexual misconduct, while 81 per cent of men gave the same reply. [caption id=“attachment_13120622” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] NHS surgeons have been subjected to sexual misconduct even inside the operating theatre. Pixabay (Representational Image)[/caption] More than 35 per cent of female surgeons had witnessed sexual assault as compared to 17.1 per cent of men. “These findings show that women and men in the surgical workforce are living different realities. For women, being around colleagues is more often going to mean witnessing, and being a target of, sexual misconduct,” the study found out. Besides rape at work, “participants in this survey reported rape by colleagues in other work-related contexts, including teaching spaces, conferences, and after-work events with colleagues”. “There are relatively few measures in place to protect the potentially vulnerable in settings such as conferences,” the report added. Survivors recall horror A female consultant surgeon told BBC she was sexually assaulted early in her career. “(He) just turned round and buried his head right into my breasts and I realised he was wiping his brow on me. “You just freeze right, ‘why is his face in my cleavage?’” She said this happened another time but there was “total silence” among her colleagues. “He wasn’t even the most senior person in the operating theatre, but he knew that behaviour was ok and that’s just rotten.” Another surgeon revealed that sexual harassment and abuse were common in corridors, the wards and even in the operating theatre. Speaking to Metro.co.uk, she said that female medical students and doctors were treated differently by mostly male consultants and male registrars. Men continue to dominate the UK’s surgery industry, with 86 per cent of the top posts held by them. The surgeon said her male coworkers commented on her breasts, physical appearance, and PMS. She said she was sexually assaulted by a former colleague on two occasions, adding that she reported him the second time but it was “difficult”. “To some extent, this person’s behavior was known to be inappropriate, it was accepted as such, it had been normalised across the department,” the surgeon told Metro.co.uk. There is a widespread culture of silence with female surgeons telling BBC that it is “risky” to speak out against their senior colleagues as they hold “power and influence over their future careers.” As the study pointed out, “In the surgical profession, hierarchy mirrors power and responsibility. Arguably, an implicit aspect of becoming part of surgical culture is to not draw attention to sexual misconduct”. “Over time, sexualisation of the workplace, through unwanted language, breaches of personal space, and physical violation, shifts accepted norms,” the study added. Lack of trust in healthcare-related bodies According to the report, surveyed surgeons were not confident that bodies such as the General Medical Council (GMC), and National Health Service Trusts could handle sexual misconduct issues. Only 15.1 per cent of women thought GMC was capable of handling sexual misconduct complaints, while 48.6 per cent placed trust in the council. Similar figures were reported for NHS Trusts. NHS’ #MeToo moment? According to Tamzin Cuming, chair of the Women in Surgery Forum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the report disclosed “some of the most appalling facts ever to come out” about the surgical workforce and “represents a # MeToo moment for surgery”. In an article for the UK newspaper The Times, she wrote, “Our research reveals an environment where sexual assault, harassment and rape can occur among staff working in surgery but allows it to be ignored because the system protects those carrying it out rather than those affected. “We need urgent change in the oversight of how healthcare investigates itself.” [caption id=“attachment_13120632” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The report has been described as a ‘#MeToo moment for surgery’ in the UK. Pixabay (Representational Image)[/caption] Cuming called for an independent probe into the incidents of sexual misconduct, along with setting up a national implementation panel to monitor action on the report’s recommendations. The report seeks the adoption of a zero tolerance policy for sexual misconduct in healthcare and introducing “robust mechanisms” to deal with perpetrators. “Cultural change in healthcare and accountable organisations is long overdue. Active bystander training, along with understanding and addressing barriers to reporting, are important next steps,” the study said. UK MPs to probe allegations British lawmakers will investigate the sexual harassment and sexual assault incidents that have come to light, reported BBC. Calling the revelations “shocking”, Health and Social Care Committee chair, Steve Brine, said: “The NHS has a duty to ensure that hospitals are safe spaces for all staff to work in and to hold managers to account to ensure that action is taken against those responsible”. “We expect to look into this when we consider leadership in the NHS in our future work.” The doctors’ union British Medical Association (BMA) has called the revelations “atrocious”. As per BBC, BMA’s Dr Latifa Patel said, “It is appalling that women in surgery are being subjected to sexual assault and sexual misconduct from their colleagues, at work and often whilst they are trying to care for patients. “The impact this will have on their wellbeing for years to come as well as their careers is profound.” The UK’s Department of Health said in a statement that sexual violence was “unacceptable” and had “no place in the NHS”. With inputs from agencies