Abuse of power and sexual harassment are widespread issues in the daily working life of physicians in German hospitals, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Marburg Association. The survey, which gathered responses from over 9,000 salaried doctors, was presented in Berlin on Tuesday.
Nearly half of the respondents reported experiencing abuse of power from senior medical staff within the past twelve months. These incidents are often repeated; 51 percent of those affected experienced them multiple times within a year. Furthermore, a considerable proportion reported experiencing such incidents monthly (30 percent) or weekly (14 percent). In the majority of cases, the abuse of power originated from male senior physicians. The most common forms of such misconduct included dismissive tones, questioning professional competence without objective basis, and instances of bullying or public humiliation. The repercussions for the victims were substantial, with many citing emotional exhaustion and a desire to change their workplace. Alarmingly, three out of four respondents did not report these incidents because they expected no effective consequences or feared professional disadvantages.
Sexual harassment also emerged as a significant problem. Thirteen percent of participants stated that they had experienced such incidents in the last year. These incidents encompassed sexual comments, unwanted conversations with sexual undertones, and unwelcome physical proximity. Approximately three out of four affected individuals experienced sexual harassment more than once in the past year, with 59 percent reporting multiple incidents per year, 17 percent reporting multiple incidents per month, and 6 percent even reporting incidents weekly. Additionally, 18 percent reported a single incident over the last twelve months.
The Marburg Association highlighted the urgent need for action. Andreas Botzlar, the association’s second chairman, stated that works councils, complaint centers, and management must cooperate closely and act preventively when boundaries are crossed. He emphasized that sexual harassment cannot be treated without consequence or allowed to lead to the suggestion of termination for the affected individuals. According to Botzlar, “We need a different culture of leadership in hospitals. Leaders must be qualified for their responsibility and held to account more strongly”.
