Sexual and gender-based violence in hospitals: female nurses and doctors report having already been abused by a colleague
How systemic abuse, upheld by male-dominated hierarchies, continues to affect female healthcare professionals.
The healthcare profession, long upheld as a bastion of healing and care, is grappling with a deeply entrenched crisis: sexual and gender-based violence. Recent investigations in different Western regions have exposed the scale of abuse faced by women in medicine—abuse perpetrated by a culture of male privilege and hierarchical power structures. White males, who dominate leadership and senior roles in the medical field, disproportionately wield the power that allows such behavior to persist unchecked.
This systemic issue came into sharp focus in April 2024 when French emergency doctor Patrick Pelloux faced allegations of sexual assault and harassment. The case sparked the #MeToo Hospital movement, amplifying the voices of women in healthcare who have long endured sexism, harassment, and violence. A survey by the Order of Physicians, released in November 2024, has further illuminated the pervasive nature of these abuses.
Survey Results Reveal Shocking Statistics
The survey, involving 19,104 junior and active doctors, revealed an alarming prevalence of sexist and sexual violence:
65% of respondents reported being aware of such violence within their profession.
Nearly one in two female nurses or doctors experienced violence during their studies or careers.
Among female doctors under 40, 57% reported being subjected to sexist insults, harassment, or physical assault.