Jump to comment:
- Page navigation anchor for RE: "RE: Metoo and the medical profession"RE: "RE: Metoo and the medical profession"
We thank Dr. Satenstein for their interest in this important topic and completely agree that it is critical to have an appropriate investigation process that is transparent and objective when any harassment allegations are made. We also agree that there are different types of harassment and that their prevalence varies across studies, thereby highlighting the importance of conducting a systematic review on the topic.[1] Even if the lower limit of the confidence interval from this review is considered, we think that most people would agree that this prevalence is too high.
Since the systematic review was published in Academic Medicine[1], many studies have been published, with estimates of how common harassment is and we have provided references to but a few of these.[2-6] We agree that it is difficult to obtain accurate estimates of harassment because of the lack of sufficient safeguarding to protect those who do report concerns, thereby leading to significant under-reporting. We would also point to the 2018 report released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine [7]. This latter report highlighted that harassment is reported to be a larger problem in medicine than in other disciplines including engineering.
Everyone brings conscious and unconscious bias into discussions; this is the reality of being a human being. We are encouraged by work from Carnes and colleagues illustrating how these might be addressed and hope that other researc...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: See www.cmaj.ca/site/misc/cmaj_staff.xhtml for Jayna Holroyd-Leduc. No other competing interests. - Page navigation anchor for RE: Metoo and the medical professionRE: Metoo and the medical profession
I read this article with several misgivings, The #MeToo movement has been a mixed blessing, On one hand it has empowered women to come forward to report episodes of sexual misconduct. On the other hand it has, in many peoples minds, produced a mob mentality that assumes that all assertions of misconduct are automatically true.The whole discussion around sexual harassment and misconduct has become overheated, I think everyone agrees that it is important that we get this right.
Show More
The authors start with the interesting question of why no high profile male physician has been call on the carpet by the Me Too movement ( before writing an article arguing that medical training is awash with harassment and discrimination ). This seems contradictory.
Of course,medical learning environments should be free of harassment. I looked at the references used in this commentary to get some idea of what kind of harassment is of concern. The main reference is a 2011 meta-analysis published the journal Academic Medicine (published May 2014). The authors reviewed data from 51 studies that met their criteria. From their findings, they conclude that harassment is a significant problem in medical training. Across the different studies, between 11 and 100% of participants reported harassment, 28-94 % reported verbal abuse, 19-94% gender discrimination, 3 to 71 % academic discrimination, 3-92 % sexual discrimination, 3.8 to 94 % racial discrimination, and 3-100% physical abus...Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for RE: #MeToo and the medical profession: considering contextRE: #MeToo and the medical profession: considering context
Having addressed issues of harassment and discrimination as clinicians and educators, we read the #MeToo movement editorial with interest. We recognize that respectful and safe environments in medical schools and in clinical settings are critical to promoting patient safety, ensuring learners’ success and enhancing physicians’ productivity.
Show More
While we appreciate the difficulties inherent in eliminating unconscious bias, it is also important to acknowledge the changes within Canadian medical schools and health care institutions in the last 25 years. When we were young physicians, no one ever discussed sexual abuse, harassment, equity or unconscious bias in medical settings. Too often, bullying and harassment were not addressed appropriately. Today we know of many examples of prominent physicians being sanctioned for unacceptable behaviour: bullying of trainees and/or nurses in operating rooms is no longer tolerated; academic physicians have lost their status for engaging in sexual relationships with learners; physicians have been reprimanded publicly for demeaning comments on social media.
Inspired academic and clinical leaders have led many initiatives to promote respect and civility within the profession, such as developing formal Codes of Conduct or creating leadership positions with the mandate to address inappropriate behaviour or encouraging learners to speak about challenging situations encountered with peers or with their teachers.
Like others, we ar...Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for RE: #MeToo and the Medical ProfessionRE: #MeToo and the Medical Profession
I can only partially agree with the authors' comments.
Much of Canadian society, and that includes many within the medical and nursing professions, perpetuate a cycle of complacency not fit for purpose, but everyone wants to be treated like a princess, including the men. No-one wants to be called out for their incompetence and many are happy not to take responsibility for their actions.
Your liberal society produces dumbed-down idiots to satisfy an ideology of equal outcomes producing the resultant mediocrity which has pervaded health care. Embracing the #MeToo movement exemplifies the selfishness of its supporters, whose ambition is self-interest and retribution for one's decision-making stupidity. Yes, many people are pigs but many institutions rate not much higher than pigsties in their inabilities to function in their dysfunction as they produce dismal outcomes. This state of affairs is emblematic of the level to which society has degenerated. You are not without blame!Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for Dr. Ezzat F. GuirguisDr. Ezzat F. Guirguis
A totally unnecessary article. Craving to join the MeToo which by definition is an infantile ill considered demand.
Me too, me too screams every spoiled brat! One cannot blame children for getting excited and wanting in on everything. They are by definition thoughtless childish demands.
The Medical profession is composed of anything but thoughtlessness and demands to be included.
The shameful Gay Pride for doctors, I regret forces one to think again at such unacceptable behaviour.
Certainly discriminatory behaviour must not be condoned and is unacceptable, whether against female colleagues or coloured ones like myself. We should only be distinguished by our skills and above all our compassion.
Nevertheless jumping on the bandwagon is disrespectful of our professional standing. With the help of advances in technology our usefulness to the community rests on our role as wise, skilled dispensers of
aid, advice and compassion to those suffering illnesses, disease and dis-ease.
We must not join the rash and immature jumping up and shouting Me too, me too!!Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for : Shining the light on #MeTooMedicine( Federation of Medical Women of Canada): Shining the light on #MeTooMedicine( Federation of Medical Women of Canada)
The FMWC supports the following principles in addressing gender harassment, sexual coercion and violence:
Gender harassment, sexual coercion and violence are an abuse of power and will not be tolerated.
#MeToo, #MeTooMedicine and #ScienceToo can look differently for women, men, non-binary, and racialized individuals.
Safe processes in reporting, ongoing support and follow-up are needed to ensure the safety and well-being of targeted individuals.
Increased and visible efforts by health professional organizations, academic and healthcare institutions to uphold professional standards of behaviour among their members.
The time is now for leadership in our profession at every level from our professional bodies to our educational systems to be part of creating a culture of safety and exemplary professionalism.The Federation of Medical Women of Canada in our 95th year will continue to shine the light on gender harassment and sexual violence. Physicians can and must do better.
Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for RE: me too in medicineRE: me too in medicine
I applaud this editorial and only hope, it will not be ignored by medical leaders. It has been enough!
Thank you for such an excellent editorial.Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for Very NecessaryVery Necessary
Thanks for writing and posting this article. It is well known that doctors get away with way more than they should when it comes to their behaviour at work and way overdue for them to change that. Whenever I try to promote this change amongst medical students in the US I get no support... They've adapted to this behaviour and perceive it as normal.
Competing Interests: None declared.