The Medical Association, which oversees the observance of ethics within the medical profession in France, today released a survey, with its conclusions being characterized as “very worrying”.
According to this survey of 21,140 physicians, more than half (54%) know of sexual or gender-based violence by another doctor, against patients, health professionals or other persons.
Almost half of women (49%) said they themselves had been the victim of sexist or sexual violence by another doctor.
Specifically, 44% of female doctors said they had been sexist or sexually harassed by colleagues, 16% had experienced sexual harassment, 6% had been sexually assaulted, and 1% had been raped (some women reported multiple and different incidents).
“The goal is zero tolerance”
According to the Medical Association, most of these events occur during studies and, to a lesser extent, during the professional career of doctors.
The Association’s president, Dr. Francois Arnaud, said he was “very concerned” by these numbers, stressing that “this situation cannot continue”. The Association intends to commission a similar inquiry, probably within the next two years, to see how things are progressing.
Since 2019, the Association has taken measures to facilitate the expulsion of “black sheep” from its ranks.
“The goal is zero tolerance,” emphasized Dr. Arno.
The Association has also made on its website an application that helps victims of sexist or sexual violence with perpetrator doctors to report the incidents. In the event that the local Medical Associations do not take care to examine the cases, the Association’s National Council can take them up and refer them to disciplinary proceedings, he added.
The Association also called for legislation to be amended to allow it to know a doctor’s criminal record when accused and to be allowed to systematically consult the Record of Offenders of Sexual or Violent Assault (Fijais) when someone applies to become a member.
Source: Athenian – Macedonian News Agency
