“After saying something that, for him, was false, the doctor saw fit to spank me in front of children and a patient. » This testimony is one of the many received by the National Association of Medical Students of France (Anemf).
While the accusation brought by infectious disease specialist Karine Lacombe against emergency physician Patrick Pelloux for sexual and moral harassment seems to be the beginning of a hospital MeeToo, 20 minutes sought to find out what was in place in terms of prevention and support for medical students who are victims of gender-based and sexual violence (SGBV).
Referents at local level
Anemf published in 2021 a survey on VSS suffered by these same medical students, particularly during their internship at the hospital. “We would have preferred never to have to read the hundreds of overwhelming comments and testimonies received,” says the association. Nearly one in two students (49.7%) say they have already received a sexist remark during their internship. More than one in three (38.4%) say they have been the victim of sexual harassment, and 6% of sexual assault.
Within universities, for several years, students have been forming “ trusted people » or “trusted people”. “These reference students listen to the victims, relieve their guilt and give them informed information to then redirect them towards the competent structures and people,” explains Carla Grassaud, vice-president of Anemf in charge of the fight against discrimination and student in third year of medicine in Montpellier.
But competent structures and people are rarely contacted. “We are receiving more and more testimonies from interns, but they under no circumstances want to do so in writing or file a complaint, for fear of sanctions,” says Margot Martinez, president of the Parisian Representative Union of General Medicine Interns (SRP- IMG). They contact us more to free themselves and be supported. » According to the study carried out by Anemf, more than 80% of student victims interviewed confided in a loved one, 40% in an intern and 9% in an elected student… but less than 1% do so with the dean, hospital administration or law enforcement.
Training for students and doctors
If the number of reports is so low, it is in particular because of a lack of knowledge. According to Carla Grassaud, the procedures are little known to the student public or not accessible enough, because “not clearly highlighted on university or hospital sites”. The association therefore put online a 96-page guide to combating SGBV on its website.
It also organizes “awareness lectures” in many universities. “Corporations, student offices or associations call us to create these lecture theaters and force students to attend,” explains the vice-president of Anemf. If they are absent, they will no longer be allowed to participate in their events of the year. » Of the seven cities where Carla Grassaud gave training this year, all made it compulsory.
Training for department heads is also set up by the AP-HP or certain faculties. “The aim is in particular to help them take care of victims when they witness this type of behavior,” underlines Margot Martinez. We are increasingly trying to raise awareness among all categories of health professionals. » The future doctor assures her: a certain number of department heads have become aware of the problem and are trying to prevent it.
Hierarchical superiority
But the hospital’s silence on this violence has another origin. “There is a lot of secrecy in the hospital setting,” underlines Carla Grassaud. Interns would not dare to denounce this type of behavior for fear of not validating their internship, of having a bad reputation, or even of being blacklisted… “Some students denounced facts but either the hospital did nothing , or they were victims of reprisals,” says the future doctor.
Because this violence is mainly committed by a hierarchical superior, an internship supervisor or a department head. “The accused person is often someone that the head of department has known for years, while the intern comes for a period of six months,” underlines Maïssa Boukerrou, first vice-president of the SRP-IMG.
The intern may therefore find himself at odds, especially if the accused person occupies a prestigious position. “The position of hospital practitioner is sacred because it is very difficult to obtain,” assures Maïssa Boukerrou. Once at this level, it would be very difficult to be dislodged. “You really need to have tons of testimonials and proof, otherwise everyone will say that he is a great doctor, very renowned in his field,” continues the first vice-president.
In September 2022, a department head at Brest University Hospital was suspended after suspicions of moral harassment of interns. It took more than 40 testimonies. “And he has just been transferred to Paris,” according to Margot Martinez.