Enforce zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment of doctors | Letter

Your report on the sexual harassment faced by doctors around the world is disturbing, yet sadly it is a reality for many working in the NHS (Almost half of doctors sexually harassed by patients, research finds, 9 September). Perhaps even more disturbing is the notion that this kind of abuse is something that doctors feel they should just put up with.

Becoming desensitised to sexual harassment may mean incidents are not reported and that the doctor is not seeking appropriate support. Experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment by a patient can have a lasting and profound impact on mental health, and this can be damaging for the individual as well as for patient care. It can also result in doctors needing to take time off or leaving the healthcare profession altogether.

The zero-tolerance policy to abuse must be rigorously enforced right across the NHS so that all healthcare workers feel their safety is a priority and they report all abusive behaviour. More broadly, there is a growing need to ascertain the additional training requirements for NHS staff for dealing with abuse and harassment – be it sexual, physical or verbal. The prevalence of sexual harassment in healthcare is an issue we are discussing at the Medical Protection Society, to see how we can best support those affected.
Prof Jane Dacre
President, Medical Protection Society