What if suddenly there are always those fleeting touches, those subtly suggestive comments, meaningful looks? What if you're uncomfortable with this situation, say "No!" says, and it still goes on like this? Sexual assault has many faces. It is not always easy to perceive them for what they are - and above all to defend oneself against them. Especially when they occur in the workplace. What if sexual assault even happens in hospitals? Between colleagues, between patients and nurses. What to do? A Ludwigsburg clinic has acted.
Sexual harassment in the clinic: not that rare
Boundaries are always being crossed. Often this has to do with a questionable sense of power. The patient would like to be treated a little "more intensively" by the nurse. Or the colleague simply doesn't accept no after several times "coming a little too close".
According to the German Hospital Society (DKG), there were 83 incidents of physical and verbal violence per hospital in 2019. This is what it says in the Hospital Barometer 2019 of the German Hospital Institute. The number was determined using surveys. And they paint this picture: In the past five years, such attacks have increased in 59 percent of the hospitals surveyed. Nurses in particular are affected, and are therefore disproportionately affected by attacks by patients and third parties. Violence occurs especially in the emergency room. But there are also cases within the college.
Where does the stupid comment, the fleeting touch, end and where does the harassment begin? The boundaries are fluid - and often difficult to classify, especially for those affected. But in the mind these moments remain and gnaw. The way to the public or at least to the superior level is difficult. Therefore, the number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher, as is also the case in the hospital barometer.
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Contact for those affected: ombudswoman advises
For those affected by sexualized violence, it is anything but easy to defend themselves against it. "Oh, that was just a stupid saying" - that's how it is often dismissed, in the worst case there is a fear of ruining one's own reputation because the problem is not taken seriously. And then there is the fear of losing yourself in terms of your career, especially when the abusive colleagues are superiors.
For such cases, the RKH clinics in Ludwigsburg, for example, now appoint an ombudswoman to whom those affected can turn. This should give them a low-threshold and confidential opportunity to express the problems and to consider together how to proceed. "Zero tolerance for sexual harassment" and any discrimination for other reasons should apply in his hospitals, the German Press Agency (dpa) quoted RKH Managing Director Jörg Martin: "It is very important to us that our employees feel comfortable at their workplace feel comfortable and safe."
Stefanie Lejeune, lawyer and former politician, will assume the position in Ludwigsburg. Those affected have already accepted the offer. "If you try to talk to me, the experience can be quite drastic," says Lejeune.
Ombudswoman reports: It's difficult to get help
The risk of assaults is particularly high in clinics, you shouldn't think so, after all you work there inevitably in close physical contact. "This affects patients and staff as well as colleagues among themselves." She reports on superiors who take advantage of their position because a complaint to their superior is associated with even greater hurdles for those affected.
There are then great inhibitions about making the experience public, she says of the mostly female victims. The thought then arises that you may have unknowingly provoked yourself or simply misinterpreted what happened. The younger they are, the more likely they are to say nothing. "Some of those affected can only talk about what happened years later and then want to hold the perpetrators accountable so that others don't have to suffer the same injustice," says the former judge, describing her observations.
Protection against sexual assault: Employers have a responsibility
Lejeune clearly also makes employers responsible for providing care. Every supervisor and in particular every employer who receives information about abuse - whether between staff or employees and patients - must take it seriously and investigate it, and protect those affected at all costs.
Other possible signs of this should always be closely monitored, such as high turnover in the workforce or frequent absenteeism. "Who looked the other way and what can we do to ensure that employees intervene when colleagues see themselves exposed to verbal or physical attacks." This question should also be central.
Lejeine has been "in office" in Ludwigsburg since April 2021 - and the balance is positive. Of course, it would be better if the need didn't exist in the first place - but it does exist. But the steps taken against sexual harassment in the clinics have already shown to be effective.
"Speak up, don't be ashamed, you haven't done anything wrong." With these words, an affected intensive care nurse turns to others via dpa who have had similar experiences. Just accepting this sentence for yourself is difficult. It's good when people like Stefanie Lejeune are there to help.
By the way: Sexual harassment can also be verbal: This is how women defend themselves against catcalling.
And this article shows that the sensitive medical field is certainly not free from this topic: Again and again, women are sexually harassed during corona tests.
If you have also been the victim of such verbal or even physical attacks, do not hesitate to confide in someone and seek help, for example at the White Ring.
