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Survey Finds Power Abuse and Sexual Harassment Widespread in German Hospitals

The doctors' union Marburger Bund says hospitals must create trusted reporting paths with enforceable rules.

Overview

  • The Marburger Bund, which released a nationwide members' survey Tuesday, said nearly half of 9,073 employed doctors—most working in hospitals—faced power abuse in the past year.
  • Thirteen percent reported sexual harassment in the past 12 months, with three in four of those cases happening more than once and most involving sexualized comments or unwanted conversations.
  • Reporting was rare, with about three in four power abuse cases and roughly one in six harassment cases filed, as many feared career harm or saw no confidential route.
  • Incidents occurred largely in hierarchical relationships, most often involving male physician superiors.
  • Respondents linked these patterns to exhaustion, lower motivation and plans to leave jobs, which could strain staffing and affect patient care.