1 in 10 female patients feel sexually abused
By Nam Hyun-woo
One in 10 female patients felt they were sexually humiliated during medical procedures, a survey showed Monday.
According to the survey by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), 118 of 1,000 females who received medical services in the past five years said they experienced sexual humiliation or offense while going through medical check-ups or counseling.
The NHRC outsourced the survey to Gonggam, a non-profit human rights law foundation.
Among 255 cases they cited, the most frequent type of humiliation was undressing in an open space for counseling or check-ups, with 46 cases.
Other incidents cited were sexually harassing comments made by hospital staff about their bodies (30 cases), questions about their sex life in the presence of people not related to their medical counseling (25 cases) or touching inappropriately (23 cases).
The NHRC cited one case in which a woman claimed a junior doctor molested her, asking, “Are you so quiet because you feel ecstasy?”
The NHRC said it recommended the hospital pay 1 million won to her in compensation.
More than 80 percent of those who said they experienced harassment replied that they were harassed by male medical staff.
The survey also said that 37 percent of the respondents said they were disturbed by female staffers.
“This shows that female health workers also may abuse female patients when they are not aware about issues of potential sexual harassment,” it said.
Those surveyed said they felt humiliated during internal examination procedures the most. Patients attended by Obstetricians and gynecologists; and those who visited practitioners of orthopedics and Oriental medicine followed.
The NHRC explained that internal medicine topped the list because it usually involves palpation across the chest and the belly.
“Many doctors’ offices are lax in protecting patients’ privacy because hospitals tend to focus on quicker medical practice,” it said. “Hospitals and doctors should explain properly before asking questions which can be sexually offending and pay more attention to protecting patients’ privacy.”
