TASMANIA’S doctors, surgeons and Health Minister have called on medical professionals to speak up about workplace harassment.
Their pleas come after a Sydney surgeon this weekend suggested female doctors should silently endure sexual harassment or assault from their peers in an effort to protect their careers.
On Friday, Dr Gabrielle McMullin said sexism was rife among surgeons in Australia, and it was preferable for young women in the field to accept unwanted advances, because speaking out could ruin their careers.
More than 12 female doctors have spoken out in the media following her controversial comments.
The doctors have told of a culture of silent sexism, harassment and bullying within medicine amid fears that those who spoke up would likely be punished while perpetrators escaped unscathed.
Launceston General Hospital director of surgery Brian Kirkby yesterday insisted nobody should be forced to endure harassment, humiliation or discrimination.
Mr Kirkby said he had seen no evidence of institutional sexism in Tasmanian surgeries.
“At all levels at which I work and practice, and in all my interactions with trainees and members of the medical fraternity, I have no reason to suspect harassment on any basis is rife within Tasmanian hospitals,” Mr Kirkby said.
“There are significant opportunities through a number of avenues to bring such issues to light, and that must be done so they can be dealt with appropriately.”
Australian Medical Association state president Tim Greenaway was also unaware of any such behaviour in Tasmania.
“That sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable, unethical and immoral and we reject absolutely the idea that anybody would have to submit to it,” Dr Greenaway said.
“The AMA would be very happy to act on behalf of any trainee who felt they had been subjected to that kind of behaviour, and we would do so absolutely fearlessly.”
State Health Minister Michael Ferguson also called on anyone aware of such behaviour to come forward and raise the issue.