#metoohopital: “Breaking the silence on unacceptable behavior must be accompanied by the elimination of impunity”

IThere are inevitable moments when suddenly the previous world shakes to its foundations and crumbles under our feet. This is what happens in the hospital. In recent days, thanks to the courage of some, speech has been freed. The hashtag #metoohopital quickly caught on on social media and led to a tsunami of testimonials.

However, the condition of the hospital and the way sexism and discrimination were entrenched there were well known. For years, under the guise of this “gun” culture, we’ve protected ourselves as best we can to avoid naming the unspeakable. Rude remarks, pointed glances, attempts at gestures in the corner of the corridor or elevator, wandering hands in the operating room, sharp responses to refusal, violence, moral and physical.

But above all, that great silence, thick, painful, unyielding, the final wall of denial. Fear of career consequences, self-trivialization of these behaviors, the all-too-often observed impunity kept this silence alive.

In 2020, the association Donner des Elles à la Santé has already condemned, in perfect accordance with this great cause of the five-year period of equality between women and men, these doctors and caregivers who have become invisible and silent. Inability to release speech.

We had to wait another four years. Four year old smile. Four years when, in the name of this medical “culture”, the remnants of eternal rooms, we defended the attitude of those who allowed themselves something. For four years we have been trying to break the code of silence so that this hospital that trained us, whose flaws we know, but also whose qualities we respect and fight for every day, does not remain the last bastion of sexism. Big Dumb” behind all the struggles, singled out by those who believe in equality as the source of work, medical progress and improved care for the most vulnerable.

A constant challenge

Four years where we never doubted the urgency of our struggle, we have patiently measured, one year later, the slow evolution of this reality. Spent four years highlighting, raising awareness and persuasion. As a result, with more and more support, both in hospital management and at the highest levels of government.

Despite sincere and motivated commitments from institutions, the process of sanctioning criminals, especially when they are doctors, is saturated with many time-consuming, complex steps, with more than uncertain results. Investigating this type of violence is still difficult: it is necessary to collect testimonies, review the facts verbatim.