So even though school is no longer in session, I have an obligatory summer hospital practice. I have to be in the hospital for 4hrs for three weeks so it’s not a big deal. Anyway, I’ve been assigned to a doctor to shadow and I think he’s a creep. Thankfully, I’m not the only one because I have a partner but she has it worse.
He has no sense on personal space but he’s really nice so at first, I shrugged it off as being too friendly cause he never made any jokes or said anything offensive.
But I just get this creepy vibe from him. Today, when he hugged my partner from the back and rested on her while we were trying to make a conversation sealed the deal for me.
We’re just medical students. Nobody said anything. Two female nurses were there but they’re attention wasn’t on us. My friend awkwardly laughed and I stared wondering if I should say something. Neither of us knew how to say something to him because we didn’t know exactly what to say. We started on Monday and he was off duty on Tuesday cause he had a night shift so today was our second meeting. We’re not familiar with each other enough to be that comfortable.
I just didn’t know how to handle it. And saying something felt like we’d make it a big deal even if it is a big deal.
My partner told me she’s run into quite a few creepy doctors. She thinks a large proportion of them are creeps. She told me about her practice with their gynecologist and how he made crass comments at her throughout her practice. He asked her to sit his lap. Told her the patient was having an orgasm. Asked if she wanted to get pregnant and when she said yes, told her to sit on his lap and when she refused, ‘joked’ that she was confused because she said she wanted to get pregnant. The patients didn’t know cause they don’t speak English and neither does the nurse. His junior doctor was too scared to a say a word either so my friend, the med student just put up with it.
Apparently, he’s not the only creep she’s met. I’ve been somewhat lucky not meeting these perverts but it got me wondering how many more of my classmates haven been harassed. I’m seriously creeped out.

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    This is NOT acceptable nor professional. Is there a program director you could go to to voice your concerns and be kept anonymous? The examples you gave are seriously sexual harassment and would not be tolerated where I teach in the US. There are offices that deal with this and if I were your program director, I would contact them on your behalf and keep you and your partner nameless. Both physicians would be investigated and, at the very least, not be allowed to have students or residents learn from them. If it’s happened to you, it’s happened to others. I’m sorry you and your colleagues have had such a horrible experience. Here is a US article that may help and you may have similar laws in your country. https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2018/12000/Sexual_Harassment_in_Medical_Schools___The.17.aspx

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      Unfortunately, I’m not aware if we have channels to speak through in cases like these. While our medical program is in English, English is not the first language here and their output of information to international students is very lacking. I don’t even know who to meet with.
      I spoke to my friend and she doesn’t want to say anything. She doesn’t think it’ll amount to much and I don’t want to force her especially since I don’t even know how to go about reporting it.
      Been shadowing him for a week now and I’ve realized he ‘flirts’ with almost every young woman he interacts with: patient, family of patient and nurses. The nurses are all used to his bullshit and they either ignore him or play along since he’s a senior doctor. 😕

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    This is blatant sexual harrassment and power abuse.

    I’m sorry you have to go through this or hear your friends go through it. Can you report the creepy doc? Do you know the right and appropriate channel to do so? Behavior like this should not be tolerated.

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      Unfortunately I don’t know how to go about reporting it and since he didn’t try anything to me, I can’t even report it. My colleague doesn’t want to say anything. She says she isn’t scared of him and finds him disgusting but harmless, so she doesn’t want to report it and I can’t force her to.

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        There is bystander reporting in the US, so you can just report what you see even if it’s not directed at you. I can’t believe there wouldn’t be anything like that where you are—but if there’s not, you could enact positive change in this situation. It starts with just one person! Fighting!

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    I agree none of this is acceptable or professional. In addition to what Ally said you might want to find a self defense class to take because this type of behavior is worrisome.

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      Self defense class is always a must! And also advertise that you go to one, creeps don’t mess with such people from my personal experience (yeah most of class mates and me have lived with creeps)

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      It is incredibly worrisome. I’ve always know people like this exist since I’ve had my own share of encounters with pervs but it’s always been outside the hospital. I don’t know why I’d never consciously considered the possibility in a hospital setting. I guess I just assumed most people would be busy with treating patients.
      I’ve always wanted to take self-defense classes but I’ve been procrastinating for a while. I was planning on joining once the new semester begins. 😁

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    oh dear! That’s totally unacceptable! I recommend that you complain if this every happens to you, and ask your friend if she would like to complain (although its her decision). And try to put a lot of physical distance in between when you meet this creep doctor, don’t share your phone number ever and if you have to, always record your phone calls, text messages. Try to meet in places with CCTV and also record all your conversations in office as well, if that makes you feel safe with this creep. (Don’t forget to put option of automatic upload to drive! Important in case your phone dies!)

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      He has no shame! He hasn’t made any sexual comments yet instead, it’s been him asking personal questions that can easily be seen as innocuous. He hugged her right in his office where he had three witnesses (two nurses and I) and made another physical contact in the hospital hallway where there’s cctv, patients and personnel’s eyes watching. He’s shameless!
      My friend doesn’t want to say anything. She doesn’t see it going anywhere and we don’t even know how or to report this to 😕

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    This post made me sad and disgusted. I hope you both stay protected. Otoh how about you guys discuss this with other classmates too? Maybe they have experienced sth similar and it might be beneficial if there are many people filing a complaint and might be considered more reliable. I know we all talk about strong women but it’s quite hard to speak up to an attacker (more so if they are in a superior position) specially as you said it is thought of as making a big deal when it IS a big deal. Be safe.

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      Turns out two people complained about a creepy doctor in this department. They’d complained of inappropriate touching and focus on them. He’d done right in the middle of their classes with numerous witnesses but he’s sly cause outer mutual friend (who is a guy) told me he didn’t see it as that but remembered the girls really complaining.
      But it happened over half a year ago when we took the course and I’m not friends with them so I haven’t confirmed if it’s the same doctor.
      We’ve decided to just keep as much distance as we can. One week is up and we’ve got two more left. My plan is to spread the word about a creep in that department so lower years are aware.

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    Sigh. I want you and your partner to be able to say straight out, “excuse me, Dr., you can’t say that kind of shit anymore” and “Dr., this is inappropriate touching” and have him stop. Argghh.

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      I want us to be able to say that too. It doesn’t help that my friend is a very receptive person who is very animated and often gives a lot of positive reactions. She doesn’t know how to not be polite. And there’s a slyness to the way he does it. He just asks personal questions or touches you and before you’re able to react, he’s changed the subject to something else and you momentarily forget that he just did something incredibly inappropriate. By the time you realize, you start to wonder if you’re the one making a big deal out of nothing.
      We both know he’s very inappropriate but we just don’t know how to report it or who to report it to. What would we say?
      I don’t make eye contact when he talks to me and I give brusque answers so he mostly ignores me and focuses on her. I told her to be rude but I don’t think she can be. She replies him with a smile because it’s automatic for her. She’s just a sweetheart! 🙁

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        Ugh, he sounds really slimy! I guess with your partner being unwilling, you cant really take this any further. Grit your teeth and power through (is advice I can’t believe we still have to say in 2019)! 😤 Spread the word as best you can.

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