New resources including support for victims and survivors of sexual misconduct by doctors have been published by the General Medical Council (GMC).
What to do if you think you have been subject to sexual misconduct by a doctor is intended for patients, those supporting them, and for doctors, medical students and other colleagues who may have been subject to unacceptable behaviour by doctors either within or outside of the workplace.
It covers:
- What constitutes sexual misconduct and how to raise a concern.
- What to expect from an investigation, and organisations that can provide support.
The regulator has also published information for employers and responsible officers – senior doctors responsible for clinical governance processes at their places of work – to support them in preventing, identifying and responding to cases of sexual misconduct.
This information covers:
- How sexual misconduct can manifest in the workplace.
- How employers can create cultures where behaviours can be safely challenged.
These resources, developed after working with victim and survivor advocacy groups, patient organisations, doctor representatives and other regulators, are part of a wider programme of work by the GMC to improve handling of sexual misconduct cases.
Also published is a report providing an overview of that work, which began after a 2017 review, by Sir Anthony Hooper, into the GMC’s handling of the case of convicted paedophile Dr. Morris Fraser, spanning the 1970s to the 1990s.
Wider work carried out as part of the programme includes support provided for doctors via the GMC’s online ethical hub, and awareness raising through a comprehensive training programme for GMC colleagues.
Further clarity on the ‘five-year rule’ has also been provided to GMC staff who look into sexual misconduct cases. Currently, due to existing legislation, the regulator is unable to consider complaints outside this timeframe unless certain criteria are met. It has now been made clearer that victims and survivors may only feel in a position to report what happened many years later, and so this should be considered when deciding if the rule should be waived.
The wider review also contributed to the regulator’s focus on sexual misconduct in this year’s updates to Good medical practice, the professional standards for doctors.
The updated standards included, for the first time, clear definitions of what constitutes sexual misconduct, as well as an expectation that doctors who see such behaviour will act.
Charlie Massey, Chief Executive of the GMC, said: "Much has changed, for the better, in recent years. But it’s important for us to acknowledge the scope for improvements to the way we handle complaints about sexual abuse and misconduct.
"Our professional standards make it clearer than ever that there must be zero tolerance of any form of sexual misconduct. A huge part of eradicating it is making sure those who experience it feel supported to speak up and tell someone.
"These changes are aimed at better supporting victims and survivors, as well as colleagues and employers, to help them through the process of raising concerns. However, we know the work doesn’t end there. We’ll continue listening and looking for opportunities where we can play our role in making sure victims and survivors are supported and heard."
Dr Becky Cox, co-founder of Surviving in Scrubs, an organisation of doctors who are campaigning against misogyny in healthcare, said: "We are very glad to see these documents produced by the GMC adding to the resources available for those affected by sexual misconduct, and for those with management responsibilities.
"The resource for survivors is informative and will be valuable for individuals affected and who may be considering raising a concern. Guidance for employers and responsible officers provides clear information on sexual misconduct and processes which will help ensure the correct actions are taken when a concern is raised. We would encourage all doctors, managers and responsible officers to read these documents."
Jocelyn Anderson, Chief Executive at the West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre – one of the expert organisations the GMC worked with to produce the new resources – said: "We welcome the GMC’s work to demonstrate that sexual misconduct will not be tolerated in the medical profession.
"The resource for survivors will support anyone who has been subjected to any form of sexual misconduct by a doctor. It will help ensure they feel supported and that they are taken seriously, as well as providing important information about how to report what happened to them."
- The new resource for victims and survivors is available here.
- The information for employers and responsible officers is here.
- The full report on the GMC’s work to improve handling of sexual misconduct cases is available to read here.
