Did you notice just how often patients (and even fellow doctors) hit on female doctors in Grey's Anatomy? It's an illustration of how frequently health workers experience all sorts of sexual harassment while on duty, given the variety of people they serve everyday.
Here's some good news for those in the healthcare industry, especially those with a share of harassment stories: in line with this year's celebration of International Women's Month, Senator Pia Cayetano recently suggested putting up gender sensitivity boards in government hospitals and other medical establishments.
Gender sensitivity boards provide a venue for resolving gender issues in the workplace. Although the Department of Health already issued an administrative order for the establishment of Women and Children Protection Units in 1997, hospitals under DOH have yet to create their own protection groups.
However, one hospital that already has its own Gender Sensitivity Board, which addresses cases of sexual harassment and discrimination, is the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
"Sexual harassment and gender discrimination must be eliminated in the workplace. It certainly has no place in government hospitals where women comprise the majority of workers," Senator Cayetano said.
As a doctor, nurse, or intern, does this initiative make you optimistic about improved working conditions in your hospital or clinic? Have you had any related issues in the past that you think a gender sensitivity board could have resolved? Tell us what you think.
Photo courtesy of Gramercy Pictures
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