Hundreds of medical students report being victims of sexual misconduct and institutional neglect in UK-wide survey exposing widespread sexism and sexual violence whilst studying medicine

Sexism and sexual violence are widespread in UK medical schools and clinical placements, where students report experiencing sexual harassment, sexual assault and institutional neglect. These are the disturbing findings of a major new survey of almost 1,000 medical students, published today by the BMA.

Two in five female respondents reported being targets of sexual harassment or sexual assault at university, and a concerningly high number of reports mentioned criminal offences including: 37 incidents of rape or assault by penetration, 85 cases of sexual assault, and 43 cases of drink spiking.

Major flaws in safeguarding have led to a breakdown in trust between students and the institutions and leaders who should be protecting them. 75% of respondents who reported sexual harassment or sexual assault said they were ‘not really’ or ‘not at all’ satisfied with the outcome. More concerningly, 67% chose not to report an incident, noting that they believed ‘nothing would be done’.

The student-led report warns that without urgent action, the sexist and unsafe culture experienced by medical students risks becoming embedded in the NHS as they become doctors, perpetuating harm across generations of healthcare professionals.

'Keep it in the family' 

A female medical student from the South of England spoke to the BMA about their experience of sexual harassment and sexual assault:

“From the very start of medical school, I was subjected to sexual harassment by a student in my year. When I first went to the university for help, I was told not to report it and to ‘keep it in the family’ - that we keep these things within the medics.  

“I felt it was my duty to report him, because I was worried about him working with vulnerable patients, and when I finally did, I was forced down reporting routes that ultimately rendered my case futile and left me feeling punished and ostracised for speaking up.

“The promised safeguards never happened, he remained in my classes, and the only outcome was that I was labelled ‘unprofessional’ and ‘difficult to work with’ - labels that can severely tarnish your career as a doctor.

“Later, after being sexually assaulted by a doctor, I couldn’t face reporting again. I was already too worn down and being accused of ‘playing the victim,’ even by lecturers. I took time out of medical school because it was clear nothing would be done to protect me from the perpetrators. The system is broken: it puts student, staff and patient safety at risk, and it left me silenced and exhausted.”

Another female medical student from the South of England spoke about their experience of sexual assault at the hands of a senior doctor:

“I was sexually assaulted by a doctor. The reporting process has been retraumatising and destructive and has dragged on for over a year. It has left me with little faith in the system, and I do not feel that students are being protected enough. Despite standing up for myself, I still do not feel safe.

“When I tried to raise concerns, it was a struggle to find the right support. I was warned against speaking up because of possible repercussions. Some people washed their hands of it because it was not within their remit, and I had to disclose repeatedly to find a supportive advocate.

“Students are left to fall through the cracks. While we are held to the same professional standards as doctors, this professional status does not extend to our safeguarding. We work in NHS hospitals without the protections afforded to NHS staff. Meanwhile university processes are not geared to handle what happens on placement.

She adds, “From day one I felt the culture of medicine was deeply hierarchical and sexist – from being advised on specialities based on what ‘gets in the way of having children’ to doctors moving me around the bedspace by the waist. Misogyny is a normalised culture.”

Gendered career advice

43% of respondents said sexism, sexual harassment or sexual assault had impacted their education and their specialty choice. A student speaking on how gendered career advice affected their career choice said:

“I was steered away from surgery and told to consider general practice because it’s more compatible with having children.”

Reporting failures

A student was warned about what effect reporting would have on their career:

“A fellow medical student touched me in intimate areas on a night out without consent. I felt unable to say the words ‘stop that’ but I froze and cried and was clearly uncomfortable. When I went to report this to a senior member of staff at my university, I was told it might reflect poorly on my professionalism if I told the medical school I had been assaulted by another student but refused to reveal their identity. There was no way to anonymously report this, and I felt too scared to report it non-anonymously. I later ended up in classes with my assaulter because there was no anonymous reporting process.”

Institutional neglect

Institutional neglect is a major theme in the report, with 60% of students saying that they did not trust their medical school to handle future incidents adequately. One of the respondents told the BMA how she was let down by her medical school:

“University allowed a repeated predator who sexually assaulted other students back onto the course. They encouraged victims not to go to the police as it would impact their reputation.” 

Mental health and wellbeing

Speaking on their mental health a student said:

“I was scared to leave the house or go anywhere alone… I became very down and socially isolated.”

47% of respondents said these experiences had negatively impacted their health and wellbeing. 

Clinical placements

A student shared their experience of harassment whilst on clinical placement:

“A male patient said, ‘lucky me, three attractive women down on their knees for me.’ We all felt so uncomfortable, and I expected the doctor to say something, but she just laughed awkwardly, and we carried on. It was as if this was an accepted part of the job, and it would be rude or unprofessional to call out the inappropriate sexualisation.”

The report found that patients were the most likely perpetrators of sexism on clinical placements, with 69% of female respondents reporting sexism in these settings.

‘Protect the next generation of doctors’

BMA deputy chair of council Dr Emma Runswick said:

“The lack of accountability coupled with the power imbalance for perpetrators, especially when they are senior doctors, can lead to the normalisation of sexist and inappropriate behaviours in the NHS and beyond.

“Whilst we know that perpetrators are a minority of patients, medical students and senior doctors, their actions can still have a devastating impact. Where the perpetrators are students or doctors, all organisations must act to prevent, encourage reporting, and address that with disciplinary, professional and criminal consequences. This report exposes the prevalence of sexism and sexual violence faced by many medical students and underlines the need for immediate action to protect the next generation of doctors.”

BMA medical students committee deputy co-chairs for student welfare Erin Maccabe and Gerald Herman said:

“These findings are deeply distressing but will sadly come as no surprise to the hundreds of medical students who experience sexism and sexual violence their everyday lives. We are incredibly grateful to those who have come forward to share their stories – their bravery has exposed a culture that has no place in our universities, NHS or anywhere in society.

“Every medical student deserves to learn in an environment where they are safe, valued, protected and treated with dignity and respect. The BMA and medical students committee are determined to make sure the recommendations in this report lead to real change – with stronger safeguarding, clear reporting routes, and genuine duty of care upheld for all students.”

Surviving in Scrubs co-founders Dr Becky Cox and Dr Chelcie Jewitt said:

“This deeply shocking data shows the appalling scale of sexual violence affecting medical students in the UK perpetrated not only by fellow students but also senior university and medical staff responsible for their training. When incidents occur students are repeatedly failed and re-traumatised by the organisations meant to protect them. Ultimately the results show medical schools and the NHS are failing to safeguard medical students.

“We call on all organisations involved in medical education to commit to end misogyny and sexual violence affecting medical students. Our medical schools, NHS clinical placement providers and regulators must be accountable and act now to protect students. They must provide specialist support for survivors, hold perpetrators to account, and prevent sexual violence through education and culture change.”

Notes to editors

The BMA’s Sexism and Sexual violence towards medical students’ survey closed on 23 April 2025. There were 968 valid responses. 

Survey demographic breakdown:

Male - 18%

Female - 80%

Non-binary - 1%

Self-described - 1% 

Medical school location:

England - 705 

Northern Ireland - 14 

Wales - 58 

Scotland - 120  

Key findings

• 84% of respondents believed that sexism was a problem in medical education. 
• 41% of female respondents and 19% of male respondents had been targets of sexual harassment or assault at university. 
• 60% of respondents did not have faith in their medical school’s ability to adequately respond to a future incident of sexual harassment and assault.  
• 75% of respondents who reported sexual harassment or sexual assault said they were not really or not at all satisfied with the outcome.  
• 67% who experienced sexual assault or harassment chose not to report it.   

Recommendations 

The BMA is recommending a number of key actions to be urgently implemented to better protect and support medical students. This includes:

• The Government to bring forward legislation that introduces a statutory duty of care on higher education institutions for their students.
• Medical schools to work together to agree clear, tough sanctions for sexual violence.
• Universities, medical schools and placement providers must provide multiple channels for reporting, including anonymous reporting routes, ensuring students can confidentially disclose incidents without fear of reprisal.
• Measures to minimise interactions between the complainant and the accused must be put in place. And prioritise the wellbeing of the complainant.
• Clinical placement providers and medical schools must provide a safe and inclusive working environment for all students starting with signing up to NHS England’s Sexual Safety Charter and the BMA’s Ending Sexism in Medicine pledge. 

Additional background

• Information from the BMA on Sexual misconduct at work
• The BMA’s joint pledge to end sexism in medicine
• The BMA’s Sexism in medicine report
• The Medical Practice Tribunal Service has included the introduction of national sanctioning guidelines on sexual misconduct cases
• NHS England’s Sexual Safety Charter NHS England » Sexual safety in healthcare – organisational charter
• Surviving in Scrubs
   

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.