Sexual Misconduct in Medicine: When the Profession Hurts Its Own

Sexual misconduct in medicine challenges the safety, trust, and integrity of the profession. In this episode of RG Life Hacks, Dr Emily Moody speaks with Professor Louise Stone, a GP and medical educator, about the realities of sexual harassment and abuse within medical workplaces and the cultural and systemic factors that allow them to persist. Professor Stone draws on her extensive research and international collaborations to explain how power, hierarchy, and silence shape these experiences and what meaningful prevention and healing can look like. The discussion explores the importance of leadership, upstanding behaviour, and peer support in creating safer professional environments. This conversation offers an honest and compassionate look at how the medical profession can confront harm within its own ranks and begin to foster genuine cultural change. It also provides valuable perspective for registrars as they navigate complex team dynamics, learn to recognise unsafe behaviours, and develop the confidence to speak up or support colleagues.   Wellbeing Support Services 1800RESPECT: Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 Lifeline: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 13YARN: 13 92 76 Aphra: 1300 419 495 Drs4Drs: 1300 374 377 (1300 DR4 DRS) Bush Support Line (CRANAplus): 1800 805 391 Police (non-emergency): 131 444 For more information and additional resources, visit ACRRM Wellbeing Support: https://www.acrrm.org.au/support/wellbeing/well-being-support   Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. The material presented is for general information purposes only.