Bullying in the Medical Profession: A Serious Issue

The Perak health department has confirmed that a doctor was abused by a colleague, and that it had reprimanded the medical officer in question.

Internal Investigation

The department initiated an internal investigation after Dr. Aidid Nawawi Ghazali had chronicled his abuse on social media last Sunday.

Committee Findings

A committee set up on June 4, the day the abuse had taken place, found the complaint to be legitimate.

In a statement, department director Dr. Feisul Idzwan Mustapha said, “The hospital director issued the medical officer a letter of reprimand on July 31.” A copy of the investigation report was also sent to Aidid on August 1.

Consequences

The department also established an independent committee to investigate the incident.

Dr. Feisul said, “The health ministry views bullying and aggression seriously. We have zero tolerance for any form of violence in the workplace.” The department also offered Aidid counselling.

The Prevalence of Doctor Bullying

In 2020, it was reported that 66.9% of doctors in the country had admitted to being victims of bullying while serving in the public service sector, with the most affected being those aged between 26 and 35.

Statistics by the Malaysian Medical Association showed that many of them were trainee doctors.

Government Action

In October, the health ministry said it would issue guidelines for managing workplace bullying for its staff through the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health.

Conclusion

Bullying in the medical profession is a serious issue that requires immediate attention and action. The Perak health department’s confirmation of the abuse and reprimand of the medical officer in question is a positive step towards creating a safe and respectful work environment. However, more needs to be done to address the prevalence of doctor bullying in the country.

FAQs

Q: What was the outcome of the internal investigation?
A: The committee found the complaint to be legitimate and issued a letter of reprimand to the medical officer in question.

Q: How common is doctor bullying in Malaysia?
A: According to a 2020 report, 66.9% of doctors in the country had admitted to being victims of bullying while serving in the public service sector, with the most affected being those aged between 26 and 35.

Q: What is the health ministry doing to address doctor bullying?
A: The health ministry has established an independent committee to investigate the incident and has also announced plans to issue guidelines for managing workplace bullying for its staff through the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health.