Students engaging in sexual harassment are 'incompatible' with being a doctor, warns GMC

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By Daniel Pye

The General Medical Council has stressed to medical schools that students engaging in sexual harassment are “incompatible” with the professional values expected of doctors.

In a letter sent to all medical schools, the regulator said that students should feel able to report concerns without fear of consequences.

The move follows the University of Manchester launching an investigation in April following reports of dozens of female medical students who allegedly received abusive phone calls over several years.

The letter, from Professor Pushpinder Mangat, medical director and director of education and standards for the GMC, didn’t reference this investigation directly, but stated: “Following recent and concerning reports of sexual misconduct and harassment involving medical students, we are writing to all UK medical schools to remind them of their responsibilities”.

It describes the experiences shared by female students as “deeply concerning” and says every medical student should be able to learn in an environment that is safe.