By Sandra Chaker | Staff Writer

The Oath of Hippocrates, an oath of ethics that most physicians swear to, articulates: “Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief, and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.” Regarding sexual assault, the image of a healthcare provider is seldom brought forth. This is because physicians are the most respected and trusted professionals. Yet, some physicians cross this red line and do not hesitate to abuse their patients–especially women.

Sexual misconduct in medical settings is uniquely cunning. Unlike other professions, the medical field requires physical contact, often in intimate areas of the body, and in contexts where patients are unconscious, sedated, or emotionally fragile. Physicians are seen as authoritative figures, and this power imbalance makes it incredibly difficult for patients to question their behavior, let alone report it. Many victims are not even aware that they have been assaulted until much later. Some are too afraid or ashamed to come forward. Others fear

they will not be believed, especially when the perpetrator is someone held in high professional regard. According to the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), physician sexual misconduct is “understood as behavior that exploits the physician-patient relationship in a sexual way. Sexual behavior between a physician and a patient is never diagnostic or therapeutic. The behavior may be verbal or physical, can occur in person or virtually, and may include expressions of thoughts and feelings or gestures that are of a sexual nature or that a patient may reasonably construe as sexual”. It is important to note that the term “sexual assault” does not exist; “sexual misconduct” is rather considered a more suitable term for describing this unethical behavior.

Despite the uncertainty of the actual number of serious ethical violations, recent cases suggest that female patient sexual abuse is an ongoing issue. For example, on July 5th, in the summer of 2022, a video went viral and sent shock waves on the internet. It was a video of Brazilian anesthesiologist, Giovanni Quintella Bezerra, orally raping the heavily sedated Thamires Souza Reis da Silva Ribeiro during her caesarean surgery. The video was taped by nurses on the anesthesiologist’s team who questioned the quantity of sedative he used on pregnant women and his movements behind the sheet compared to his other colleagues. Thus, other of Bezerraʼs patients are worried that they may have also been victims of the same violence. Investigators began reviewing other procedures and speaking to potential victims. The pattern suggested a serial predator who had been enabled by a system that lacked vigilance and protocols to protect its patients.

The public response in Brazil was immediate and furious. News of the incident spread quickly, igniting outrage across the country. Protests erupted in major cities, with thousands marching in solidarity with the victims. The streets of São Paulo, Rio, and Brasília are filled with voices demanding justice, systemic reform, and accountability. Women carried signs that read “Anesthesia is not consent” and “We trusted you.” Social media became a powerful platform for survivors to share their stories, many of whom had suffered in silence for years. The hashtag #AnestesiaNãoÉConsentimento trended for days, symbolizing a collective cry against the culture of silence that surrounds sexual abuse in medical spaces.

One major reason physician sexual abuse often goes unreported is that victims may lack the skills necessary to maneuver the regulatory system to seek recourse for the harms of such a crime. Even if certain victims do file complaints, many hospitals and health care organizations may not act on them. Dr. Sidney Wolfe, founder of the Health Research Group at Public Citizen, stated that “over half of the physicians who were disciplined for sex-related offenses by their state medical boards did not have their licenses revoked and, therefore, are probably still practicing physicians.” In several cases, the penalty for serious sexual misconduct was probation or constraints that prevented the doctor from examining female patients but permitted them to continue practicing.

Rebuilding trust in healthcare is no easy task. It requires more than legal reforms or new policies. It demands a cultural shift in how institutions view complaints, how staff are trained,

and how power is distributed within the patient-caregiver relationship. Victims must be heard and supported. Perpetrators must be held accountable. And above all, silence must no longer be an option.

“Do not tie your hair in a ponytail,” “wear flats and avoid high heels,” “do not walk alone” … Young girls and women are often told to take various precautions to avoid assault, but the reality is that being targeted is never their fault. Regardless of the steps they take to stay safe, they can still become victims of predators. The responsibility always lies with the perpetrators. In cases of sexual misconduct in the medical field, the blame falls squarely on the physician. This is why it’s crucial to implement a regulation that allows patients under sedation to record their medical procedures, as a safeguard against potential abuse by physicians seeking personal gratification. However, with no immediate action, it is no surprise that most women are starting to show a strong preference for female physicians.

References:

“What you should know about the outrageous case of the anesthetist who abused a pregnant woman in Brazil (and shocked the world)” available at: https://www.elciudadano.com/en/what-you-should-know-about-the-outrageous-case-of-the-anesthetist-who-abused-a-pregnant-woman-in-brazil-and-shocked-the-world/07/14/

Federation of State Medical Boards, (2020), “Physician Sexual Misconduct”, available at: https://www.fsmb.org/siteassets/advocacy/policies/report-of-workgroup-on-sexual-misconduct-adopted-version.pdf

“Hippocratic Oath”, (2012), available at: https://dal.ca.libguides.com/c.php?g=256990&p=1717826#:~:text=Whatever%20houses%20I%20may%20visit,be%20they%20free%20or%20slaves.