90% of UK female surgeons have witnessed sexual misconduct in the last 5 years, new report shows – SCREENSHOT Media

90% of UK female surgeons have witnessed sexual misconduct in the last 5 years, new report shows

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Published Sep 12, 2023 at 02:08 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

In the past five years, nearly one in three female surgeons within the NHS have experienced sexual assault, marking a sobering revelation that’s been described as a “#MeToo movement for surgery.” A study by the British Journal of Surgery, which was shared with the BBC and The Times, reported 11 instances of rape among participating surgeons.

The survey results lay bare the pervasive nature of the problem, with 30 per cent of female surgeons disclosing incidents of sexual assault and 29 per cent experiencing unwanted physical advances at work. Moreover, over 40 per cent of female surgeons expressed being subjected to unsolicited comments about their bodies, and 38 per cent enduring sexual “banter” in the workplace. Shockingly, almost 90 per cent of women admitted to witnessing sexual misconduct within the past five years.

The report’s grim conclusion is that sexual misconduct occurs frequently within the surgical environment, going largely unchecked. The reasons behind this alarming allegation are attributed to the deep hierarchies and gender and power imbalances within the field—a disappointing truth that has ultimately created an unsafe working environment for both staff and patients.

Anne, whose true identity remains concealed for legal reasons, came forward to speak with the BBC, driven by a firm belief that change can only be achieved when people are willing to share their experiences.

While Anne refrains from categorising her traumatic experience as rape, she is resolute in stating that the sexual encounter was non-consensual. This disturbing incident unfolded at a social gathering linked to a medical conference. The distressing pattern was all too familiar: Anne, a trainee, found herself entangled with a consultant.

“I trusted him, I looked up to him,” Anne recalled, describing her relationship with the senior colleague. He capitalised on her trust, sowing doubt about the other attendees’ trustworthiness due to her lack of familiarity with them.

The woman continued: “So, he walked me back to the place I was staying, I thought he wanted to talk and yet he just suddenly turned on me and he had sex with me.”

The aftermath of this traumatic incident left Anne emotionally numb. Over the years, the memory continued to haunt her.

The study, which was conducted by the University of Exeter and based on responses from 1,436 participants via an anonymous online survey, was commissioned by the working party on sexual misconduct in surgery—a collective of NHS surgeons, clinicians, and researchers dedicated to raising awareness of this issue and driving cultural and organisational change.

This disconcerting revelation also comes in the wake of a Guardian/British Medical Journal investigation in May, which unveiled over 35,600 recorded “sexual safety incidents” in NHS hospitals in England over the past five years. Consequently, the General Medical Council issued a call for doctors to adopt a policy of “zero tolerance” toward sexual harassment.

Tamzin Cuming, a consultant surgeon who chairs the Women in Surgery forum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, described to The Guardian how the report was a watershed moment for the field, emphasising the urgency of revamping oversight mechanisms within healthcare to address the issue effectively.

Cuming called for the establishment of a national implementation panel to oversee the report’s recommendations and the independent investigation of incidents of sexual misconduct. She noted the anger and frustration within the profession, urging comprehensive change.

The findings have been presented to NHS England, the General Medical Council, and the British Medical Association. NHS England expressed concern and emphasised the need for action to ensure hospitals are safe for all.

The report reveals a disturbing pattern of junior female trainees facing abuse by senior male surgeons, often their supervisors. This pervasive issue has far-reaching consequences, as trainees fear that reporting such incidents will adversely affect their careers and lack confidence in the NHS’s willingness to take action.

The findings of the study underscore the urgent necessity for external and independent investigative procedures to instil trust and enhance the safety of healthcare workplaces. This emphasises the importance of fostering a culture of zero tolerance and establishing robust mechanisms that empower survivors to step forward, report incidents, and ensure their grievances are treated with the utmost seriousness.

Keep On Reading

By Malavika Pradeep

After rape in the metaverse, people are debating if online teabagging is sexual assault

By Monica Athnasious

Another female researcher reports being virtually raped in Facebook’s metaverse

By Monica Athnasious

Female prisoners raped after officer sold cell keys to male inmates for $1,000

By Mason Berlinka

TikToker’s charitable deed of paying for people’s food at supermarket goes terribly wrong

By Alma Fabiani

Watch the absolutely bonkers trailer for sloth horror movie Slotherhouse

By Mason Berlinka

Who is TikToker Nekoglai? The Moldovan streamer tortured by Russia paying tribute to Ukrainian soldiers

By Louis Shankar

Sex Education season 4 review: It’s giving messy energy

By Charlie Sawyer

Updated release dates for 5 of the most popular TV shows affected by Hollywood writers’ strikes

By Charlie Sawyer

Unpacking why TikTok has labelled Disney’s reworked Snow White live-action film as unfeminist

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Watch a viral video of a man ordering a pizza with his mind

By Jennifer Raymont

These Balenciaga jeans aren’t real denim: Why Haute couture is obsessed with subverting the truth

By Alma Fabiani

Coachella is coming to Fortnite to target festival-goers all year around

By Mason Berlinka

Some of the wildest internet reactions to New York’s apocalyptic haze

By Charlie Sawyer

Watch viral video showing which US states lean towards Barbie or Oppenheimer

By Alma Fabiani

Exposed: The fake history of pad Thai and the gastrodiplomacy behind it

By Alma Fabiani

BeReal unveils new RealPeople feature in latest attempt to win back the hearts of gen Z

By Emma O'Regan-Reidy

6 of Rosalía’s iconic fashion moments and how to recreate them

By Jennifer Raymont

Life in Photoshop: Margot Robbie gets an extreme airbrushing on the cover of US Vogue

By SCREENSHOT

Weekly roundup: The Kardashians season 3 drops and Neuralink brain implant approved for human trials

By Phoebe Dodds

Are you in the middle of a quarter-life crisis? Here’s how to shake it off