SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF FEMALE DOCTORS BY PATIENTS

Background. Sexual harassment within the doctor-patient relationship i s typically discussed in terms of male doctors harassing female patien ts. We investigated the sexual harassment of female doctors by patient s. Methods. Surveys were mailed to a random sample of 599 of the 1064 licensed female family physicians in Ontario, Canada. Respondents were asked about their experiences of sexual harassment by either male or female patients and about the nature and frequency of harassing behavi or. Suggestions for prevention were requested. Results. Seventy percen t (422) of the questionnaires were completed and returned. More than 7 5 percent of the respondents reported some sexual harassment by a pati ent at some time during their careers. Physicians had been harassed mo st often in their own offices and by their own patients. However, in s ettings such as emergency rooms and clinics, unknown patients presente d a proportionately higher risk. The physicians' perceptions of the se riousness of the problem varied with the frequency and severity ot the incidents. Conclusions. Sexual harassment of female doctors appears t o occur frequently, and it is therefore an important topic to address in medical school and professional development.