#MeToo: Faced with the wave of testimonies in the medical field, the Order of Physicians launches a vast investigation into sexual violence

Plusieurs mesures avaient été annoncées fin mai dont la mise en place d’une formation pour tous les personnels. MAXPPP – Luc Nobout

Face aux témoignages de médecins et soignants, relatant des violences sexistes et sexuelles subies dans le cadre professionnel, l’Ordre des médecins a lancé ce lundi 23 septembre 2024, une enquête d’envergure.

The National Council of the Order of Physicians launched a survey this Monday among all doctors and “junior doctors” on sexist and sexual violence suffered in the workplace, the results of which will be published at the end of 2024.

This survey follows the wave of testimonies and reactions from doctors, interns, and other caregivers that occurred in the spring, in the wake of the #Metoo movement.

An anonymous questionnaire

All doctors registered with the Order and all junior doctors (interns in their final phase of training) will receive a questionnaire by email, guaranteeing their anonymity, and will be able to respond until October 14, indicates the Council of the Order (Cnom) in a press release.

This mailing will concern approximately 285,000 professionals and interns, the Cnom told AFP.

The Order “encourages all doctors” to respond in order to have the most “reliable and representative” data possible.

The results “will make it possible to measure the extent of the phenomenon, to identify the most frequent types of violence and the contexts in which they occur produce", in order to "direct actions to combat sexist and sexual violence", he writes.

A "rifle culture""

In April, the revelations of infectiologist Karine Lacombe sparked numerous testimonies, on social networks and from professional and student associations, on sexist and sexual violence (SVS) in the health sector.

Many female caregivers denounced a ""rifle"" and "patriarchal" culture established in particular in hospitals, and a tradition of omerta favorable to VSS.

The former Minister of Health, Frédéric Valletoux, had led consultations and announced several measures at the end of May, including the implementation of training for all staff.