A BMA survey finds that two in five female respondents experience being targets of sexual harassment or sexual assault at university, and a concerningly high number mention criminal offences.
Hundreds of medical students report being victims of sexual misconduct and institutional neglect in a UK-wide survey exposing widespread sexism and sexual violence whilst studying medicine.
In the survey from the British Medical Association (BMA) of almost 1,000 medical students, two in five female respondents reported being targets of sexual harassment or sexual assault at university, and a concerningly high number of reports mentioned criminal offences, including: 37 incidents of rape or assault by penetration, 85 cases of sexual assault, and 43 cases of drink spiking.
The data backs up the NHS Staff Survey, published earlier this year, which found 18% of medical and dental staff in training have been the target of unwanted sexual behaviour in the NHS from patients, service users, their relatives or other members of the public.
Major flaws in safeguarding have led to a breakdown in trust between students and institutions. Three-quarters of respondents who reported sexual harassment or sexual assault said they were ‘not really’ or ‘not at all’ satisfied with the outcome. More concerningly, 67% chose not to report an incident, noting that they believed ‘nothing would be done’.
“The lack of accountability coupled with the power imbalance for perpetrators, especially when they are senior doctors, can lead to the normalisation of sexist and inappropriate behaviours in the NHS and beyond,” said BMA deputy chair of council Emma Runswick.
Zero-tolerance
“The scale of the problem clearly demands collective action, and UK medical schools must urgently sign and adhere to the NHS Sexual Safety in Healthcare Charter. This is a vital step in embedding a zero-tolerance approach to sexual misconduct and fostering safer, more respectful learning environments for future healthcare professionals,” said Laura Hamilton, council member at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
The BMA has recommended a number of actions to be implemented urgently to protect and support medical students better.
This includes bringing forward legislation that introduces a statutory duty of care on higher education institutions for their students. Medical schools are working together to agree clear, tough sanctions for sexual violence.
Universities, medical schools and placement providers should provide multiple channels for reporting, including anonymous reporting routes, to ensure students can confidentially disclose incidents without fear of reprisal. At the same time, measures to minimise interactions between the complainant and the accused must be put in place.
In response, Steve Riley, chair of the Medical Schools Council (MSC), called the report “deeply concerning” and said that through the MSC, medical schools have been actively strengthening how to prevent, respond to, and address all forms of sexual harassment and discrimination.
“It’s our duty to protect our medical students by creating a safe and supported learning environment and ensuring a just course of action is taken when needed,” he continued.
