Doctors & # 039; union does not take sexual harassment seriously, members say

A sexism scandal that has taken hold of the largest UK doctors' union has been deepened after members said it does not take sexual harassment claims seriously.

A senior member of the British Medical Association is said to have told a medical student that she is the & # 39; best lesbian & # 39; one he had ever seen and caught another.

Female doctors have also accused colleagues that they have been sexually promoted, brushed their buttocks, guessed loud bra sizes, and even sent uninvited nude photos.

The BMA is already investigating the inappropriate actions of its male members.

And at a meeting this week, doctors condemned the internal complaints procedure, called it unsuitable for the purpose, and warned people to report on sexist incidents.

The revelations are the latest in a series of harmful public responses that have forced the BMA president to apologize and commit to change.

"Let me be clear – sexist, disrespectful, discriminatory and abusive behavior will not be tolerated in this association and must be eradicated," said Dr. Chaand Nagpaul, BMA President, in April.

Doctors have since started to provide evidence for an investigation that was launched in light of allegations at that time, specialized news site GP Online reports.

Two senior general practitioners, Dr. Zoe Norris and Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, had the lid on a sexist culture disappear in the association with 160,000 members months ago.

In the motion approved this week, the BMA members agreed that the internal complaints procedure was not good enough and that it actively discouraged & # 39 ;.

They also said that & # 39; sexism and intimidation are not being seriously addressed by the BMA & # 39 ;.

And they welcomed the ongoing investigation and said they expect her findings to be published and enforced quickly by the association.

The vote took place during the annual BMA representative meeting, which began in Belfast on Sunday and ends today.

A doctor who spoke during the conference, Dr. Jennifer Barclay, revealed that outrageous incidents took place several years earlier at the annual meeting.

A sophomore medical student reportedly asked colleagues to save her from a & # 39; drunk and creepy & # 39; senior doctor who her & # 39; the hottest lesbian & # 39; he had ever seen & made a comment about bringing her home.

The same man was later accused of groping another medical student and was suspended and then resigned, GP Online said.

Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, one of the two general practitioners who came forward to make the revelations that led to the investigation into sexism, spoke at the conference this week.

She said: & # 39; I have served in national practice committees for 18 years, maintaining trade secrets everywhere.

& # 39; Deciding to say something was not done lightly.

& # 39; By going public, I know I have offended many of you who think the current processes should have been used.

& # 39; But here is the issue – it seems that current processes are not trusted by the people who need them most. & # 39;

The BMA called for more women affected by sexist behavior or intimidation by union members to come forward and help the investigation.