Google Screened

Are You in the Healthcare Field?

Find Out How We Can Help »
[et_social_follow icon_style="slide" icon_shape="rectangle" icons_location="top" col_number="1" outer_color="dark"]
Millions Recovered For Our Clients No Fees Unless We Win

Sexual Harassment of Medical Personnel

November 10th, 2017

Chester County Sexual Harassment Lawyers discuss sexual harassment faced by medical personnel. Sexual harassment is a pervasive problem in the workplace. Harassment occurs in various industries, including highly-skilled fields such as medicine. Medical personnel are speaking out about sexual harassment and the results are alarming. Researchers collaborated with the American Physical Therapy Association to survey over 800 physical therapists about workplace harassment.

Sexual Harassment in Physical Therapy

Physical therapists disclosed the struggles they face when dealing with clients. Eighty percent of the therapists surveyed admitted to being sexually harassed by clients. Clients have passed inappropriate remarks, requests, physical interaction, and even sexual assault.

Physical therapists admitted to being angry, confused, and upset with their treatment as complaints to upper management went largely ignored. Therapists admitted to being told that sexual harassment was part of the job. According to respondents, managers do not offer any guidance or support when therapists lodge sexual harassment complaints against clients. Female physical therapists are at a higher risk for harassment, especially when dealing with male clients. The study revealed that the probability of sexual harassment increased 400 percent when a female therapist has a male client. Clients with brain damage were more likely to sexually harass personnel and therapists with less than five years of patient experience.

The study’s findings are not new as the same study was conducted in the late 1990s and the results are relatively the same. Researchers have suggested an approach that includes patient education and organizational leadership. They believe managers should advocate for therapists by taking their claims seriously and developing a system of protocols. Patients must also be aware of therapist-client boundaries.

General Practitioners Talk About Sexual Harassment

Physical therapists are not the only medical personnel confronted with sexual harassment as doctors and medical students also suffer. An Australian study conducted in 2010 disclosed startling information from over 600 female doctors. Many doctors confessed to being harassed with inappropriate remarks, requests for inappropriate examinations, and unwanted exposure to body parts. As a result, many doctors opted to change their consulting style when dealing with patients.

A Survey of Academic Field Experiences (SAFE) study conducted in 2014 declared that 26 percent of female scientists have been sexually harassed at work by colleagues. Female scientists conducting field experiments are twice as likely to experience harassment. Most times, perpetrators were senior members of the research team. Victims were scared to speak up and report the harassment, especially to other senior team members.

Studies have shown that sexual harassment is an ongoing problem in the medical and science communities. Administrators have not properly addressed the issue or established guidelines to prevent or remedy claims. Many doctors, therapists, and medical students suffer in silence. Numerous sexual harassment incidents go unreported and victims only choose to speak out during anonymous surveys.

Chester County Sexual Harassment Lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C. Help Victims Seek Justice

The Chester County sexual harassment lawyers at The Gold Law Firm P.C. advocate for victims in the Pennsylvania communities. If you or a loved one has been a victim of workplace sexual harassment or assault, please contact us at 215-569-1999 or fill out our online form.

EMPLOYMENT LAW PRACTICE AREAS
View All Practices
2019 American Trail Lawyers badge
Lead Counsel Rated
life time achievement
million dollar advocates badge
AV Peer Review Rated
Philly Happening
Top one badge
Silver Client Champion Award 2020
super lawyers badge

As Seen On

avvo lawyers.com Martindale Justia FindLaw
© 2024 The Gold Law Firm P.C. All rights reserved. [ Site Map | Privacy Policy ]

Attorney Advertising Materials. Sidney L. Gold is responsible for the content of this website. This website is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Website Accessibility: The Gold Law Firm P.C. is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. We are continually working to improve the accessibility of all content on our website and applying the relevant accessibility standards.

* The awards and accolades displayed on this website were issued to the attorneys, or the entire law firm by the respective providers of these honors. They are as follows, Avvo Inc., Super Lawyers®, Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rated, ASLA Top 100 Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Legal Leaders Top Rated Lawyers, Bar Register Preeminent Lawyer, Happening List Winner, BBB Accredited Business, National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top 1 Percent, America's Top 100 Attorneys, The Employee Rights Advocacy Institute for law and policy, Best Lawyers, Lead Counsel Rated, Top Employment Lawyers in Philadelphia, Association of American Trial Lawyers Top 100 and Martindale Hubbell Client Champion Silver. No aspect of these advertisements have been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.