In a recently released report from Medscape, titled Patients Sexually Harassing Physicians: Report 2018, 27 percent of physicians said that they had been sexually harassed by patients. Seven percent said that they have been sexually harassed by other clinicians, medical personal or administrators in the workplace.

In the fall of 2017, Women In Optometry conducted one of its Pop-up Polls on this subject, and the reports from that poll seem to indicate that the prevalence is even higher among optometrists. More than 250 people responded to the WO poll, and 51 percent of the women ODs who responded said they had been sexually harassed by a patient, and 29 percent of women ODs who responded said that that they sexually harassed by professional colleagues.

The Medscape report detailed the type of sexual behavior that patients displayed toward physicians. Overall, 32 percent of female physicians and 23 percent of male physicians said that they experienced some patient harassment behavior. The WO Pop up Poll results showed that 51 percent of women ODs and 26 percent of the male ODs reported that they’ve experienced patient harassment behavior.

Click here to read the full story from Women In Optometry.