this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2023
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Sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape have been referred to as surgery's open secret.

There is an untold story of women being fondled inside their scrubs, of male surgeons wiping their brow on their breasts and men rubbing erections against female staff. Some have been offered career opportunities for sex.

The analysis - by the University of Exeter, the University of Surrey and the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery - has been shared exclusively with BBC News.

Nearly two-thirds of women surgeons that responded to the researchers said they had been the target of sexual harassment and a third had been sexually assaulted by colleagues in the past five years.

Women say they fear reporting incidents will damage their careers and they lack confidence the NHS will take action.

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[–] [email protected] 193 points 1 year ago (27 children)

Um, what the fuck? Can people just not be terrible for a little while, please?

[–] [email protected] 49 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seems like hollywood. Dangling career opportunities as a reward for constenting to unwanted advances etc.

[–] [email protected] 72 points 1 year ago

Seems like every situation where there is a power differential.

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[–] [email protected] 117 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I heard that among surgeons there are a lot who have a personality disorder like narcissism or they are straight up sociopaths. Because of the prestige and power that comes with the job. Some feel like they are some sort of god because they have so much control over someone’s life when a patient lies on the table.

Not a surprise to me that this shit happens in the hospital.

[–] PP_BOY_ 29 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The training pretty much filters neurotypicals. Most well-adjusted people won't sacrifice their entire life for a career and don't suffer from a savior complex that compels them to save lives. I'm certainly not advocating that surgery is unnecessary or that surgeons are bad people by default, but it takes a fair level of narcissism to put yourself in that position IMO

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[–] theragu40 29 points 1 year ago

I think there's also something to the idea that it takes someone who is a little..."off" for them to be able to cut other people open for their job. You have to be able to dehumanize them to a certain extent.

I worked in a hospital for a few years, and the folks working in the ORs were definitely the most interesting and often most intimidating crowd, and you did NOT fuck with the surgeons, they were the kings and queens of the floor.

[–] query 73 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Even if you had like no morals at all, that type of behavior has to disqualify someone from being a surgeon. They're sabotaging the work they're supposed to be doing.

[–] Guy_Fieris_Hair 32 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

"Dear neurosurgeon man, I know you have like 15 years of college and 20 years of experience and you are the only qualified neurosurgeon in 100 mile radius but remember that one time you rubbed your dick on that intern? Yeah, your going to need to let the next 15 patients die and we are going to need to let you go. I know it downgrades us from a level one trauma center, hundreds of people might die, and we will lose MILLIONS of dollars by letting you go, but it's the right thing to do" - Said no chief of surgery ever.

They just pay the lawsuits and move on. It's shitty, and it's why surgeons are giant dicks. They don't have to treat conscious patients and they get away with anything because they are nearly irreplaceable.

[–] query 20 points 1 year ago

They're getting in the way of their own replacements, creating a hostile environment preventing people from working and gaining experience.

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[–] FlyingSquid 73 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Wait, so Scrubs was right about surgeons?

[–] [email protected] 49 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I heard scrubs is right about a lot of things.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Am nurse. Can confirm. Scrubs is right about a LOT of things

[–] JustAManOnAToilet 16 points 1 year ago (3 children)

How many Jello puddings have you stolen?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

How dare you! I would NEVER!!

(Unwanted cookies on the other hand, fair game ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You have my attention, because I have always thought gelatin and pudding were separate and distinct cups.

[–] JustAManOnAToilet 10 points 1 year ago

They are, but both are made by the Jell-O brand.

[–] TruTollTroll 8 points 1 year ago

Help me steal this, or we check the back of your trunk?

-Janitor

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My ER doc husband says it's probably the most accurate medical show

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[–] FlyingSquid 10 points 1 year ago

It's just weird for a sitcom, but I guess it also had plenty of serious moments.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Most jokes are based in truth. Except absurdist humor.

[–] FlyingSquid 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Sure, I just didn't expect 'The Todd' to be systemic.

[–] [email protected] 55 points 1 year ago (3 children)

what kind of sad pathetic waste of life do you have to be to GET HORNY WHILE SOMEONE ELSE IS CUTTING SOMEONE UP AND SEXUALLY ASSAULT SAID SKILLED SURGEON

[–] MataVatnik 17 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Have you met/partied with medical students who are doing their residencies? I have, and my opinion of doctors has radically changed since then.

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[–] solstice 49 points 1 year ago (4 children)

men rubbing erections against female staff

Imagine getting aroused while working, doing surgery, surrounded by other people. I would think any one of those three would preclude the possibility.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago

I would guess it is how they respond to a highly stressful environment. But that would only excuse the arousal, not the sexual assault.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Meh, I've gotten erections in the weirdest circumstances, it's not necessarily happening because of the situation, but in spite of it. Still would've never thought to rub it on someone, lol

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You ever notice how in almost any industry, hobby, geographical area or any other demographic you care to pick, a story about sexual assault will get traction and then people in that demographic will be like "Yeah, sexual assault is kind of an open secret here"? Surgery. Fucking surgery. Someone is trying to give someone a new lease on life, a gift most precious that very few can bestow, and someone else is like "I'll bet I can get a fistful of tiddy", and an entire room full of people are like "This is fine and normal. Let's not do anything about it."

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago

To be honest I'm not surprised. Have you ever met a surgeon before? Quite a few assholes who think they're King of the world.

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[–] Syrc 44 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Full stats by the way:

Among women, 63.3% reported being the target of sexual harassment versus 23.7% of men

29.9% of women had been sexually assaulted versus 6.9% of men

10.9% of women experiencing forced physical contact for career opportunities (a form of sexual assault) versus 0.7% of men

Being raped by a colleague was reported by 0.8% of women versus 0.1% of men

Not sure why it keeps being framed as “versus” like it’s some sort of competition and it doesn’t mean both sexes get sexually harassed and that’s not fucking okay for either.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (9 children)

That's a fundamental misunderstanding of scientific/mathematical language used in statistical studies.

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[–] stevedidWHAT 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] Sterile_Technique 34 points 1 year ago

Surgical tech, here.

Um... What the fuck? NHS, you need to get your shit together.

I've only worked in US military/civilian hospitals, so I can't speak on the NHS, but in the US at least there's no 'open secret' of sexual assault in surgery. At minimum you've got a surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse, and tech in the room, so if any one of them tries to assault one of the others, it'll be in plain view of two witnesses.

We've definitely got a few relics from another era (old perverts who constantly push boundaries), but even they know better than to try to do something physical. X-rated 'jokes' directed where they aren't welcome is another story, but those aren't some 'open secret' that we just tolerate, either: fucker's getting told off and written up.

Surgeons especially are notorious for having a short temper and shit social skills, and HR won't raise a fucking eyebrow over Drs creating a hostile work environment in pretty much any way -other- than sexual. But a sexual harassment/assault complaint? I've seen two of those put in (both at a private civ hospital, two different surgeons/incidents) and both times HR intervened that day. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall for those conversations, cuz whatever they threatened did the trick - surgeon was absolutely walking on egg shells from there on.

If there's any open secret it's "different spanks for different ranks" - if the accused was a nurse or tech, they'd be fired on the spot, where Drs are given much more leeway / second chances, but that difference is much more narrow when it comes to sexual harassment/assault.

The only way I can think they might get away with that shit is if no one's reporting them, so if you see it, FUCKING SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO HR.

[–] TruTollTroll 29 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Who remembers the show scrubs and the few times we saw episodes around the female surgeons in the show. There was one chick that got under Turk's skin but she was the better surgeon... kelso took turk to medical conference and the only reason why in the show was cause of the other surgeons gender... then there was the blond boss of Turk who specifically talks about the targeted harassment.... this was all early 2000-2010s....

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Who else remembers the Todd?

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago (5 children)

While the report shows men are also subject to some of this behaviour (24% had been sexually harassed), it concludes men and women surgeons are "living different realities".

What do you mean "living different realities". It's the same reality where people cannot stay for themself, no matter who they are. They unhappy with their life and so want to force themself on others? They can force their head in dirt

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Apparently when I'm coming out of anesthesia I'm a massive perv and will make really inappropriate come ons to the medical staff. I feel even worse about it now that I know they already have to deal with it from their coworkers. I already warn them that it happens so at least they are forwarned right?

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I think generally, they understand that you’re not in control of yourself. It’s like being drunk, but you didn’t make the choice to drink in this case.

A bit of an assumption on my part, since I’m not medical staff. And of course it won’t be universal.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Can a giant meteor just strike the earth already?

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I absolutely disagree that humanity needs to be destroyed because a bunch of men can't stop sexually abusing those around them, but the fact that it seems easier than ever getting them to stop really goes to show how bad the problem really is.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I always get erections while cutting people too

/s

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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