COMBATING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT THROUGH UNITY AND SAFEGUARDING

Aesthetic Medicine finds out what can be done to improve safeguarding for vulnerable patients

This month, we launched the Women in Aesthetic Medicine (WiAM) podcast.

In a live episode, recorded during Aesthetic Medicine North 2023, a panel of influential women in the industry confronted a deeply troubling issue plaguing their field: sexual misconduct.

The panel, hosted by editor Anna Dobbie, included consultant editor Vicky Eldridge and nurse practitioners Cheryl Barton, Amy Bird, and Tracy Dennison.

STARTLING STATISTICS

A recent report, widely covered by prominent news outlets such as the BBC and The Times, presents a distressing reality: almost one in three female surgeons working within the NHS has endured sexual assault in the past five years. These shocking statistics should not be underestimated and have ignited crucial conversations about the need to address this problem within the medical community. They underscore the pressing need for reform and change within the medical community and highlight the courage of those who came forward to share their experiences, as this is often the first step towards addressing the issue.

The WiAM initiative is a testament to the power of solidarity among women in the field. It aims to provide a platform for sharing stories, experiences, and insights, fostering a supportive community that celebrates the achievements of women in the industry. The panellists underscored the significance of not only celebrating and supporting women in the industry but also cultivating a vibrant community that unites both seasoned professionals and newcomers.

WHY SAFEGUARDING TAKES CENTRE STAGE

“Safeguarding is the word that should be on everybody’s lips,” says Barton. “It should be through all our policies and procedures, like a stick of rock; they should start and finish with safeguarding. I’m looking forward to the consultation document that’s coming out, I have put my personal response in, and I’m working with the BACN expert group now to produce their response.”

She expresses concern about the consultation’s red, amber, and green ‘traffic light’ system: “For me, it seemed rather that the Department of Health and Safety were putting up the walls and the roof of the house when the foundations are not there. We, as nurses, are mandated to protect the public. We must have enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. We can’t, in our practices, treat anybody under 18, or anybody, over 65 for treatment of disease or disorder unless we’re CQC registered, so, we’re looking at groups of people that are very vulnerable within this sector.

“A vulnerable lady can have her manicure done at home, somebody can walk in and do it for them. Look at pamper parties in beauty clinics on the high street. Children of six can be left with adults who are not DBS checked, and have their shoes and socks taken off and have their toenails painted. Girls of 14 can enter beauty establishments and have spray tans. They’re often blindfolded when they have a spray tan and their visual acuity is reduced. They’re often topless and sometimes they’re bottomless. The issue is predators will find the vulnerable, the children, young adults, and women and we need to do everything we can to protect them. Now, I’m working with the Police and Crime Commissioners in West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire and my MP, because we’re going to try and mandate that DBS checks are done.”

Barton’s impassioned call for safeguarding reverberated through the entire conversation. Safeguarding is not only about protecting patients but also upholding the ethics and standards of the medical profession. The vulnerability of patients seeking intimate treatments necessitates a comprehensive framework for their protection.

The panellists expressed profound concern about the current absence of clear regulations governing their field, emphasising the compelling need for government intervention to safeguard patients effectively and highlighting the incongruity between sectors like taxi services, which mandate thorough DBS checks for drivers, and the largely unregulated domain of intimate beauty treatments. A robust regulatory framework is essential to ensure that all practitioners adhere to the highest standards of care and professionalism and ensuring that safeguarding measures are ingrained in every aspect of aesthetic medicine is crucial for building trust and accountability within the industry.

DELVING INTO THE COMPLEXITY

Looking further into the multifaceted issue of sexual misconduct within the medical community, personal experiences and individual contexts can shape perceptions of the problem. Mayoni Gooneratne, a general surgeon and WiAM board member, previously shared her contrasting experience, where her male surgical colleagues have been her greatest supporters, serving as a reminder that the issue is complex and not uniform in its manifestation. Individual circumstances and workplace cultures can significantly influence how sexual misconduct is perceived and addressed.

THE ROLE OF CONSUMER AWARENESS

A main takeaway from the discussion is the need for greater patient awareness, with the panel advocating for a paradigm shift where prospective patients actively inquire about safeguarding measures when seeking aesthetic treatments. Informed consumers can contribute to creating demand for responsible practitioners who prioritise patient safety and empowering consumers with knowledge is a pivotal step in effecting change.

The conversation culminates in a passionate plea for immediate action, with panelists expressing their frustration at the slow pace of change and calling for swift and comprehensive regulations to protect patients. The urgent call for immediate action underscores the critical nature of the issue; patient safety cannot wait, and comprehensive regulations must be enacted swiftly to protect those seeking aesthetic treatments. They emphasise that the vulnerability of patients cannot be ignored and must take precedence over all other considerations. The commitment of these women to patient safety and their unwavering determination to drive change within the field of aesthetic medicine is both commendable and essential.