Everyone has a right to be treated with respect and to train and work without being subjected to discrimination, bullying or sexual harassment. Sadly, this is not the experience of all Surgeons, Surgical Trainees and International Medical Graduates. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons set up an Expert Advisory Group to find out the prevalence, and effects, of discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment in surgery. The results of the research commissioned are, quite frankly, shocking. They show that nearly 50% of Surgeons, Surgical Trainees and International Medical Graduates have suffered discrimination, bullying or sexual harassment in recent years. The College recognizes that some of our members have been perpetrators, often from their positions of power and authority. The individuals who took the time to share their stories have described the devastating impact this has had on their personal and professional lives. As president of the College, on behalf of all Fellows, Trainees and International Medical Graduates, I apologize. I apologize to every one of you who has suffered discrimination, bullying or sexual harassment by surgeons. I also apologize to all other health workers on whom surgeons have inflicted these behaviours. I recognize that many of you have not felt you can trust the College to complain. The College must now earn your trust by fairly and effectively dealing with these unacceptable behaviours. I am sorry that too many of us have been silent bystanders. This silence has been part of the problem. We have failed to push back against the behaviour of the individuals responsible, and we should have done more to support those who have been affected. The College accepts the draft report and its recommendations in full. We heed the call for more transparency and external scrutiny, as well as the need for cultural change. We commit to developing an Action Plan that addresses the issues raised and the recommendations made and we will be held to account against it. We want also to work with public and private hospitals, government agencies, regulators, educators, specialist medical colleges and their societies to make the health workplace a safer, more respectful and healthier place for us all. There is no place for discrimination, bullying or sexual harassment in surgical practice or surgical training. The College will not tolerate these behaviours. We will not tolerate the abuse of power and authority by surgeons. The surgical profession must no longer be silent. The College will make it safe to speak out. The College, the Specialty Societies and our Fellows now have a great deal of work to do. And we will do it. I would like to acknowledge the work of the members of the Expert Advisory Group chaired by Hon Robert Knowles and its Secretariat. I am particularly grateful to Nicole Newton for her help and advice with regard to the wording of this apology. The need to formally apologize was approved by the RACS Council through its Executive.
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David Watters (2015) studied this question.