Doctors claim hospital form condones sexism at work

Female doctors have criticised their employer, University Hospital Galway (UHG), for continuing to use official documents that, they claim, “condone” sexism in the workplace.

The Galway City Tribune understands that the Non Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHD) committee has formally complained to UHG management about the use of gender specific consent forms that omit reference to female workers.

One section of the consent form states: “The nature and effect of this operation/treatment/procedure have been explained to me by: Dr./Mr. . . .” There is no option for “Ms”.

The controversial consent form: no option for ‘Ms’.

The matter was raised by NCHD last July or August following several complaints by female doctors, and some male colleagues. But the forms have not been changed by UHG despite the issue having been raised on several occasions since, including with the Human Resources department. The hospital says it has changed the form but this is disputed by doctors.

NCHD include a wide range of professionals, from fully-qualified doctors who have yet to be appointed to consultancy positions as well as hospital interns.

The English version of the form, which must be signed by patients prior to procedures, only recognises males. The Irish version is gender neutral.

Doctors, through NCHD, have appealed for the English form to be changed so as to recognise women. Female patients have also remarked to doctors at UHG about the anomaly.

“It is a particular bugbear of women doctors working here,” a senior hospital source said.

“It may sound like a small thing but it’s very irritating. It is indicative of and condones sexism, which is something we encounter frequently in the workplace. It is just a few letters – the consent forms could be changed easily,” the doctor said.

Sinn Féin senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said many doctors at UHG are no longer happy to have this form in the workplace. The Connemara-based senator said he has spoken to clinicians at UHG who are afraid to speak out because they are employed on temporary contracts.

“Almost a year on from when the NCHD committee first complained, the gender specific consent forms are still in use. This is a very simple HR matter, and it should be changed without any fuss.

“The fact that it hasn’t been changed and that the concerns raised have been ignored points to wider issues of sexism and gender equality issues at the hospital,” said senator Ó Clochartaigh, who vowed to raise the matter in Seanad Éireann.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh said he has requested information in relation to the number of women in senior clinical positions and consultancy positions at the hospital as he fears there could be a ‘glass ceiling’ for women clinicians at UHG.

“I hope this doesn’t point to a wider issue of gender inequality,” he said.

In a statement, Saolta University Hospital Group said it was “unintentional” and it has changed the forms following a complaint, although doctors claim it is still in use.

Saolta added: “The consent form in question was a very old form, reprinted over many years. This has now been updated to include the title of ‘Ms’ and are currently being prepared for distribution.”