It is a known fact that the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a healthcare crisis leading to many of our healthcare professionals to be overworked and stressed out.
However, this is made much worse with the fact that many junior doctors face uncertainty after their contracts ends and that many are bullied and even harassed at their workplaces.
Recently, a medical officer shared her experience of being bullied and sexually harassed by another medical officer at a hospital in Selangor.
Sharing her experience anonymously to the Hartal Doktor Kontrak Twitter page, the medical officer stated that she had been a floating Medical Officer (MO) at various hospitals in Selangor.
At one of the hospitals, she worked in the Surgical department. “There is a MO there named Dr S. He was assigned by the specialist in charge of HOs to monitor and assess us.”
This is one of the worst. If this is not sexual harrasment, I dont know what is. Surgical Dept Hosp Serdang. Waiting for someone to justify his actions. #stopworkplacebullying pic.twitter.com/qyiT08lRSo
— HartalDoktorKontrak (@HKontrak) May 7, 2022
On day 8, she joined and assisted Dr S for a pilonidal cyst excision which needed a karyadakis procedure. “I asked him why did we are doing incision and drainage and not karyadakis which was planned by the surgeon.”
“He asked me to shut up and not ask questions. He then called me stupid and asked me why I was asking him questions before entering the operation,” she stated.
“He then redirected his questions to my personal affairs on how long I have been married and why I still don’t have any kids. He then said that if I were his wife, he would’ve left me due to me not being pregnant and that I could be barren and useless after 2 years of being married,” she added.
In another instance which was on the night of Raya 2021 where the MO was working, he asked her why she did not apply for leave.
“I said that my husband couldn’t get his leave on that day so we opted for leave on the 3rd day of Raya instead. He then said that I’m too obedient for following my husband and told me not to trust my husband very much.”
“He then said, ‘don’t you think that your husband can cheat on you with other women‘,” she stated.
“The MO then asked why I got married right after we finished studying. ‘Are you guys that horny?’ He mentioned the word horny a few times and I was scared to talk back as he is known to give warning letters to housemen for small and unreasonable reasons.”
The MO then went on to show her a video of a woman wearing a tight shiny pink dress which was exposing half of her breasts. “Your husband would drool over women like these. Sexy, unlike you who only wears normal clothing.”
“I ended up crying alone and settling all notes for referral that night. I know I am not the only one who has faced this problem with him. A few other colleagues has experienced the same,” shared the MO.
“These seniors are the ones that ruin sensibility in the KKM and KKM let these kind of seniors stay permanent and they are not afraid to do things as they know they are untouchable.”
Another MO shares her similar experience with Dr S
The tweet has gone viral and managed to garner plenty of attention. It even prompted another victim of Dr S to share her experience.
Another victim of Dr S comes forward. Another sexual assault. #stopworkplacebullying pic.twitter.com/1ExlTurmrB
— HartalDoktorKontrak (@HKontrak) May 7, 2022
The other MO said that Dr S was shocked to find out that she had a boyfriend and said, “Even I wouldn’t look at you,” in front of 2 other MOs who simply laughed.
“One of the other MOs was a female. Same gender as me, but she’d rather sit in silence and not bother to say anything at the time. You guys deserve no respect.”
We hope that KKM look into this seriously and punish Dr S accordingly. Let this serve as opportunity for victims who that have been bullied or harassed to speak out and for the perpetrators to get punished.
Also read: Māsians Call For Answers Over Reports Of Overworking & Bullying Of Trainee Doctors At HPP
