Surgeons accused of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment of juniors

A medical group apologised to surgeons and trainees in Australia and New Zealand after a report found that almost half had suffered discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment from senior surgeons.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, which represents 6,000 surgeons and 1,300 trainees in the two countries, commissioned the report and promised to adopt its recommendations for fundamental reform.

“This behaviour has been too long tolerated and has compromised the personal and professional lives of many in the health workforce,” college president Prof David Watters said in a statement.