Hospitals are culpable for sexual misconduct on their premises

A recent disturbing allegation involving the assault of a patient by a health worker has ignited outrage. However, it is far from an isolated case.

Sexual misconduct in healthcare settings remains a largely undetected public health crisis, affecting countless patients who often suffer in silence.

The relationship between patients and healthcare professionals is built on trust. Patients entrust their bodies, their vulnerabilities, and their most intimate health concerns to medical practitioners, expecting care and protection. However, this dynamic is inherently imbalanced—healthcare providers wield significant power over patients, who often find themselves in physically and emotionally vulnerable states.

Given this power disparity, any intimate involvement between a healthcare professional and a patient can never be truly consensual. The Hippocratic Oath, which has guided medical ethics for centuries, explicitly condemns such behaviour: “Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further, from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves.” Despite these ethical imperatives, sexual misconduct in healthcare settings persists. It remains underreported, under-recognised, and, in many cases, unpunished.

An invisible epidemic

Sexual misconduct in healthcare takes many forms. The most commonly reported cases include non-consensual touching, voyeurism, forced exposure, harassment, and threats of sexual violence.

Studies show that patients with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and mental health conditions are disproportionately affected. The true extent of this crisis remains unknown because many victims do not come forward.

Patients dealing with the burdens of illness often lack the energy, resources, or confidence to seek justice. Many are silenced by fear—of stigma, retaliation, disbelief, or further harm. In a system where power is so unequally distributed, survivors are left with little recourse.

It is time for healthcare institutions, professional bodies, and regulatory agencies to take decisive action.

For healthcare facilities

Healthcare facilities must adopt a broader framework for defining and identifying sexual misconduct to ensure patient safety and uphold ethical medical practices.

This framework should define sexual impropriety as any behaviour, gestures, or expressions that are sexually suggestive, seductive, or that violate a patient’s dignity. Additionally, it must address sexual violations, which refer to any form of physical sexual contact between a healthcare provider and a patient, irrespective of perceived consent. This includes sexualised touching, inappropriate exposure, or the exchange of medical services for sexual favours.

Given the inherent power imbalance in the provider-patient relationship, the burden of responsibility must always rest with the healthcare provider.

It is their ethical duty to recognise and prevent exploitation, ensuring that medical spaces remain places of trust, care, and professionalism.

Medical professionals

Strengthening professional accountability medical professionals must be held fully accountable for breaches of conduct, particularly regarding sexual misconduct. Healthcare workers must recognise that engaging in sexual misconduct with a patient is not only unethical but also illegal, and they should face clear and enforceable consequences for such violations.

Regulatory bodies responsible for oversight must rigorously implement and uphold these standards to maintain professional integrity. Furthermore, healthcare workers must have a mandatory duty to report instances of sexual misconduct among their colleagues, ensuring that unethical behaviour is not overlooked. Any failure to report such violations should itself be considered professional misconduct, reinforcing the principle that safeguarding patients is a collective responsibility within the medical profession.

Establishing safe, anonymous reporting mechanisms Patients often refrain from reporting instances of sexual misconduct due to fear of stigma, retaliation, or the belief that they will not be taken seriously.

To address this, healthcare institutions must establish secure and anonymous reporting mechanisms that provide victims with a safe space to disclose their experiences without fear of harm. Such mechanisms should prioritise confidentiality while ensuring thorough investigations and accountability for perpetrators.

A culture of silence only enables misconduct to persist, making it imperative for healthcare institutions and regulatory bodies to actively encourage and protect those who come forward. Breaking the silence around sexual misconduct in healthcare is not just an individual effort but a collective responsibility that requires systemic change and unwavering institutional support.

Recognising sexual misconduct as a criminal act Regulatory bodies must acknowledge that sexual misconduct in healthcare settings is not merely a professional violation but a criminal act. Cases involving sexual misconduct should not be resolved solely through Alternative Dispute Resolution or internal disciplinary measures, as such approaches often fail to deliver justice to victims and may allow perpetrators to continue practicing.

Criminal prosecution

Instead, healthcare professionals found guilty of sexual misconduct must face criminal prosecution, just as they would in any other context. The privilege of holding a medical license should never be used as a shield against the law. Ensuring that offenders are held criminally accountable is essential in protecting patients, maintaining public trust in healthcare institutions, and reinforcing the legal and ethical obligations of medical professionals.

Restoring trust

To healthcare professionals: sexual misconduct involvement with a patient compromises medical judgment and violates the fundamental principles of medical ethics. It does not matter if a patient appears willing—the physician is always responsible for maintaining boundaries.

To regulators and policymakers: sexual misconduct in healthcare settings must be treated with the urgency and seriousness it deserves. There is no room for leniency, no justification for inaction. To survivors: you are not alone, and you deserve justice. The system has failed you for too long—it is time for reform. Sexual misconduct in healthcare settings thrives in secrecy. We must dismantle the structures that protect perpetrators and create a system that safeguards the dignity, safety, and well-being of all patients.

The time for complacency has passed.