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Taking action on harassment

April 2, 2015

By AMA President Associate Professor Brian Owler

The AMA yesterday convened a high level Roundtable meeting in Canberra to confront the issue of sexual harassment within the medical profession.

More than 40 medical profession leaders – including the Presidents and/or senior representatives of the Medical Colleges, trainee representatives, and medical students – attended the meeting.

The Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, and Susan Pearce, the Acting CEO of the NSW Health Education and Training Institute, addressed the meeting and participated in proceedings.

Having resolved to confront the scourge of sexual harassment, it is fair to say that the profession is learning. Yesterday’s meeting was about continuing that learning process and setting an agenda of work for the profession over the coming months.

We know that sexual harassment is under-reported, but we also know that it exists and must be acted upon. A number of projects have already commenced to seek opinion and provide an opportunity for members of the profession to speak up.

It is clear that we need to review the processes for making a complaint about sexual harassment and the process that follows.

We applaud the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for convening an independent expert panel to review their processes. There is no doubt that this will also inform other Colleges and organisations. We all eagerly await the recommendations of the expert panel.

For trainees, there is convergence of the roles and responsibilities of Colleges and employers, such as State Health Departments. We need to ensure better coordination between these groups. We must make the complaints process clear and accessible to trainees.

Many people have concerns about the safety of accessing these processes. Apart from the stigma and shame that those making the complaint may feel, there is concern about the repercussions that may follow such a complaint. This must change.

We need safe environments that all members of the profession can access to discuss their concerns about the behavior of colleagues, and be able to voice complaints without fear of recrimination. This needs to be followed by action, with due process, and protection of the complainant.

We spent time yesterday discussing the need for cultural change. There is no doubt that education about bullying and harassment is important, particularly in the early years of medical education. Here there is a role for universities and our educators.

The soon-to-retire Chief of Army, General David Morrison, recently said: “The standard of behavior you walk past is the standard that you accept”. Immediate and effective cultural change must start from the top.

Organisations such as the AMA and the Medical Colleges have a key role to play. At the coalface, whether it be in the operating room or the clinic, we need to make sure that we have leaders that set the tone and call out bad behavior when we see it.

Yesterday’s meeting was just the start of the process of cultural change and strong action against harassment in all its forms within our profession.

We have an agenda, and we have commitment to bring about change. We will work diligently to enhance our profession and protect all of the individuals who make such valuable contributions to the profession and to our patients. And we will report regularly on developments.

The following organisations were represented at the Roundtable: