Almost half of doctors sexually harassed by patients, research finds

Almost half of doctors internationally have been sexually harassed by patients, new research has found, prompting calls for medics to be given panic alarms to help repel such behaviour.

Globally, 45% of doctors have suffered sexual harassment of different sorts from patients, according to a review covering seven countries published in the Internal Medicine Journal.

More than half (52.2%) of female doctors have experienced sexual harassment, which means they are much more likely to be affected than their male counterparts (34.4%), the academics found.

Doctors are subjected to many types of sexual harassment, including unwanted sexual attention and patients telling jokes of a sexual nature, asking them out on dates, touching them inappropriately and sending them romantic messages or letters.

Dr Kamau-Mitchell, one of the authors of the paper, said the high prevalence of sexual harassment by patients should impel hospitals, clinics and other healthcare providers to take firm action to safeguard doctors.

“I recommend that hospitals and clinics take these findings seriously, giving doctors who work in isolated wards, on night shifts or alone protection such as CCTV and panic alarms,” she said.

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Source: The Guardian, 9 September 2024