Silent Victims: Shocking Rates of Sexual Harassment in Healthcare and the Need for Change

The report has uncovered a concerning issue: 37% of women have experienced sexual harm from a healthcare provider, with 22% of these incidents happening in the last five years. This data is alarming as it suggests that these figures are comparable to instances of sexual harm outside the healthcare system. The most common types of harm reported include staring, belittling statements, requests to undress, touching, sexual offers, indecent acts, rape and extortion by threats.

It’s worth noting that the majority of this harm was committed by non-gynecologists, with smaller percentages attributed to gynecologists, other health professionals, dentists and nursing staff. A significant number of incidents occurred in the community, with clinics, private clinics and hospitals being the most common locations. However, there is a concerning trend where 14% of respondents reported being harmed by the same therapist multiple times. Many women were left feeling confused about what constituted abuse or how serious their case was and didn’t know where to turn when faced with sexual harassment in a healthcare setting.

The study also highlighted low reporting rates for these incidents due to reasons such as shame or fear of offending parties. It’s important to note that following these incidents many women reported mental and emotional damage personal and social impact on their lives.

In response to this research experts are calling for greater awareness and support for victims of sexual harassment within the healthcare system. The Ministry of Health has emphasized that individuals who have faced such harassment can reach out to supervisors within organizations or contact them directly for assistance. Authorities are also taking steps to investigate and address complaints of sexual harassment in this field.