Inappropriate behaviour in the medical workplace – insights into organisational leadership from anthropology, psychology and related sciences

Medicine is based on a long apprenticeship and mentorship that entails respect for skilled and experienced leaders - a process that lends the profession prestige. However, as is often the case with such professional values, this respect for leaders can be abused, and medicine continues to struggle with high levels of bullying, harassment and discrimination by medical leaders that adversely impact on medical staff and the communities they serve. We explore why inappropriate behaviour in the medical workplace has not seemingly receded in this context. Insights from anthropological and social psychology research on dysfunctional organisational leadership may inform collective action to enact change.