Problem of sexual violence in the medical system and plans for improvement from a legal perspective

With the emergency of the MeToo movement, some medical professionals have courageously expressed their experiences with sexual harassment and violence, but victims' fear of retaliation or career damage is still a major reason for which they may hesitate to come forward with their experiences. Manuals presenting standards for sexual harassment and sexual violence in each hospital should be standardized, so that the victims can solve these problems within the system. Taking steps to prevent sexual harassment and sexual violence in medical institutions and implementing procedures for reporting and responding to sexual harassment and sexual violence will contribute to gender equality and the eradication of sexual harassment and sexual violence in the medical system.

Efforts to reflect on and resolve sexual violence in the medical field in Korea

Some coercive aspects of culture in the medical field that have traditionally been regarded as routine practice are now gradually changing in the aftermath of the MeToo movement that has come to Korea, due to improved awareness of sexual violence. It is important for the medical community to endeavor to eradicate sexual violence by implementing the measures against sexual violence proposed by medical organizations, including the Korean Medical Women's Association. The medical field should undergo a self-purification process, so that medical personnel can change themselves and their own behavior in the context of the medical profession, which is a noble occupation that deals with life-and-death matters. As such, essential elements of the training system of doctors should be maintained. Developing action plans to properly deal with sexual violence incidents in medical institutions can be considered the first step in this process.