UK sexual misconduct findings will be ‘considered’ in surgeons’ code review – RCSI

Research and recommendations relating to sexual misconduct in UK surgery will be “considered” during a review of the RCSI’s Code of Practice for Surgeons. The new code is due to be published early next year, according to a College spokesperson.

A study in the British Journal of Surgery, published in September 2023, reported that 63.3 per cent of women and 23.7 per cent of men had been sexually harassed by surgical colleagues in the previous five years, among other serious findings. It was based on an anonymous online survey of UK surgical workforce members recruited via professional organisations. 

The study’s supplementary material listed the RCSI as an organisation that declined to provide ‘support with participant recruitment’ or ‘supportive endorsement’ (eg, helping to “indirectly facilitate participant recruitment”) during the undertaking of the research.

The three UK surgical colleges were among the organisations that provided support.

The study was a collaboration between the universities of Exeter, Surrey, and Glasgow, and the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery (WPSMS). An associated WPSMS report included a series of recommendations, which have led to actions by several accountable organisations.

Asked about the reference to the RCSI in the supplementary material, a College spokesperson told the Medical Independent: “The RCSI addresses UK matters through the Joint Surgical Colleges meeting, rather than acting alone. We joined our sister colleges with an intercollegiate joint statement when the report was published. Sexual harassment is not acceptable to the RCSI and this was confirmed in a letter at the time to Fellows, Members, and trainees from the Past President, Prof [Laura] Viani.”

The RCSI has accepted an invitation to a meeting at the Royal College of Surgeons of England to “ensure we are learning from the UK experience”.

The RCSI stated it has procedures for trainees and trainers to confidentially report “inappropriate behaviours”. The College works with the Irish surgical trainees group to ensure supports and policies are “fit for purpose”.

The RCSI had received reports of workplace harassment, bullying and sexual harassment in recent years. “However, the number of reports has been very low and we could not publish statistics without compromising confidentiality.”