Medical Schools Campaign
In July 2024 we launched our medical schools campaign to raise awareness about medical students being targetted by sexual violence. In our 2023 report Surviving Healthcare we analysed multiple testimonies submitted by medical students reporting sexual violence from other students, university staff and NHS staff on clinical placements. Students told us about the life changing impact these events had on them and how they struggled to raise concerns to their medical schools and placement providers.
Over the last 2 years we have campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of this and call for medical schools and organisations that support students to commit to end sexual violence, support survivors and hold perpetrators to account.
Sexism and Sexual Violence Towards Medical Students: Joint Surviving in Scrubs and BMA report
Key Findings:
- 84% of respondents believed that sexism is a problem in medical education.
- 41% of female respondents and 19% of male respondents had been targets of sexual harassment or assault at university.
- 60% of respondents did not have faith in their medical school’s ability to adequately respond to a future incident of sexual harassment and assault.
- 75% of respondents who reported sexual harassment or sexual assault said they were not really or not at all satisfied with the outcome.
- 67% who experienced sexual assault or harassment chose not to report it.
At the most severe end, this included 37 incidents of rape or assault by penetration, 85 cases of sexual assault, 43 cases of drink spiking and 24 cases of stalking.
Key Recommendations:
- The Government to bring forward legislation that introduces a statutory duty of care on higher education institutions for their students.
- Medical schools to work together to agree clear, tough sanctions for sexual violence.
- Universities, medical schools and placement providers must provide multiple channels for reporting, including anonymous reporting routes, ensuring students can confidentially disclose incidents without fear of reprisal.
- Measures to minimise interactions between the complainant and the accused must be put in place by medical schools and placement providers, prioritising the wellbeing of the complainant.
- Clinical placement providers and medical schools must provide a safe and inclusive working environment for all students, starting with signing up to NHS England’s Sexual Safety Charter and the BMA’s Ending Sexism in Medicine pledge.