Trainees are being abused by senior male surgeons, a major analysis given to the BBC reveals.

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.

  • Mrderisant@lemm.ee
    231·
    1 year ago

    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?

    • KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      18·
      1 year ago

      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.

      • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        1 year ago

        Surgical tech, here. ^spot on.

        We do, however, appreciate the warning if you know ahead of time that you wake up pervy, angry, violent, terrified etc.

        For example, I’m a bigger guy, so if I know you wake up swinging fists, I’m going to make sure I’m near your upper body when you wake up so I can stop you from hurting yourself, one of my coworkers, or myself.

        If you’ve got PTSD or something and wake up terrified (we see this with vets a lot - their first thought is that they’ve been captured), then I’m going focus on cleaning up my back table when you wake up so the first thing you see isn’t some big hairy dude; and let whoever on the team is the best at verbal de-escalation take the position by your upper body so they can reassure you as you’re waking up.

        And if it’s your first surgery, we’ll adjust as we go.

      • Ser Salty@feddit.de
        4·
        1 year ago

        Like being blackout drunk to the point you’re not even aware you’re awake, while you’re awake

    • lightnsfw@reddthat.com
      2·
      1 year ago

      This is a huge fear of mine. I’ve not been anesthetized since I was a kid but I have a filthy mind. I worry what will come out of my mouth if I’m ever in that situation. I wish I could be like “can you just gag me til I sober up”?