More than half of female GPs sexually harassed by patients: study

More than half of Australia’s female general practitioners have experienced sexual harassment from a patient, a survey suggests.

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A Female doctor analysing a CAT scan. (AAP)

The study’s findings, which were released today, showed that 54 per cent of the 180 female GPs surveyed had been sexually harassed by their own patients.

Dr Peter Bratuskins, who co-authored the research, said the results were wide-ranging.

"It was something that doctors said happened across their careers and some doctors also reported it had happened to them multiple times," he said.

General Practitioner Dr Lorraine Baker said "inappropriate requests for an examination" and "inappropriate exposure of body parts," were common problems faced by female doctors.

Dr Baker said female doctors who had experienced sexual harassment by patients were profoundly affected.

"Some of them had had to alter their dress; alter the way they practiced," she said.

"It’s had a huge impact on their own sense of personal safety.

"That is very disturbing."

Watch: The full report above.


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