Trainee doctors face sexual harassment, physical abuse

SHAH ALAM - Sexual harassment, physical and mental abuse are among the nightmares that trainee doctors and young medical officers go through while working in the health sector, especially in government hospitals and clinics in the country.

In fact, the bully was not only alleged to be among the medical officers (MOs) but also the colleagues, including nurses.

Hartal Doktor Kontrak spokesman Dr Muhammad Yassin urged the Health Ministry to take strict disciplinary action against medical officers who committed such acts.

He emphasised that if the Health Ministry did not take action, it would portray a bad image to the community, especially young doctors.

“There are among them who want to commit suicide because they are too stressed, insulted, angry and many more.

“In fact, three doctors had decided to quit while some had to see psychiatrists,” he told Sinar Harian on Friday.

Previously, there were allegations on social media that a young doctor was the victim of bullying by a medical officer at Tawau Hospital, Sabah.

Dr Muhammad added that if anyone in the medical fraternity was involved in bully cases, the Health Ministry needed to withdraw their opportunity to further their study and restrict the payment of their salaries and ranks.

He said if they were given the opportunity, there was a high possibility of various adverse impacts.

“What’s even more unfortunate is that the bully was given the opportunity to further their studies to become specialists.

“That gives a bad impression to young doctors and the community that bullies could be rewarded.

“If he can be behaving like that (a bully) as a medical officer, try to imagine if he becomes a specialist, we will not know what his temperament is going to be like,” said Dr Muhammad.

He said the Health Ministry needs to work with the police to investigate the issue in order to teach the bullies a lesson.

“If it is true that they are bullying to such an extent, we have to stop them.

“The Health Ministry needs to take ‘Zero Tolerance Towards Bullying’ seriously or the community will lose faith if no action is taken to curb issues involving medical officers.

“In fact, even young doctors will lose their faith in the higher-ups,” he explained.