Originally developed during Academic Year 1992-93 by a committee comprised of members of the Faculty/Student Relations Committee – members representing the student body, faculty and administration of the School of Medicine.

 

It is the policy of the Drexel University College of Medicine that student mistreatment, harassment or abuse will not be tolerated. Student abuse may be verbal, psychological or physical. It includes, but is not limited to, sexual harassment, discrimination due to age, racial and ethnic background, religion, national origin, or disability. It is understood that all personnel will treat students in a collegial and professional manner.

 

Student abuse and sexual harassment are best defined functionally. Student abuse includes but is not limited to treating students in a harmful, injurious or offensive way; attacking in words; speaking insultingly, harshly or unjustly to or about a student¹; reviling or demeaning a student; undermining the self esteem or confidence of a student. Sexual harassment includes but is not limited to offensive comments to or about the student; unwanted attention or unwelcome verbal advances; unwanted, persistent invitations; unwelcome, explicit propositions; offensive displays; offensive body language; unwanted physical advances; and/or sexual bribery. ². Abuse and harassment create a hostile environment in which to work. It is understood that incidents of abuse or harassment may cover a spectrum from flagrant to ambiguous and subjective. The abuser may be a member of the faculty, a resident, a nurse, another student, a member of administration, a hospital employee, or even a patient.

 

The mechanism of reporting and investigating incidents of student abuse is described below. An algorithm outlining the steps is included. The system and the plan for its implementation are designed to protect students from retaliation and to protect those charged with abuse from unfair accusations. The names of the student, the reporting individual and the alleged abuser will be held in strict confidence on a need-to-know basis.

 

An incident of abuse may be reported by the student or by an individual who witnessed the incident of abuse. An incident can be reported directly to the school of medicine’s Early Response Group3 in the Dean’s Office or to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs who may report it to the Early Response Group in the Dean’s Office. An incident reported to a trusted faculty member, a class officer, a member of academic administration, or a close friend may be reported to the school’s Early Response Group or to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs who will refer the case to the schools Early Response Group.

 

The School Of Medicine’s Early Response Group will notify the University Legal Counsel of the incident, receive advice, if necessary, and gather information on the incident from the student, from any known witnesses to the incident and from the accused offender. The communication and interaction involved in this process may lead to resolution of the incident. If the incident is resolved, no further action need be taken. The Early Response Group will file a report describing any documented incident with a committee comprised of members of the faculty, student body and administration (the Faculty/Student Relations Committee). The report of a resolved incident will contain no names. The Early Response Group will follow up on the incident six to eight weeks after the report to assure that there has been no retribution.

 

If the incident is not resolved, the Early Response Group will consult with the Legal Department again, gather more information, if needed, and present the case to the Faculty/Student Relations Committee. The Faculty/Student Relations Committee will review the information and make a recommendation to the Dean for further action. Action may include reprimand, loss of hospital privileges, suspension, dismissal and/or possible criminal prosecution. In the strictest confidence, all reported incidents of abuse will be documented by the Early Response Group, including information regarding verification and resolution. During a follow-up assessment six to eight weeks after the process, the Early Response Group will determine if there has been any retribution to the student. Documentation will be forwarded to the Faculty/Student Relations Committee, which will compile an annual report on all incidents of student abuse for the Dean of the Drexel University College of Medicine.

 

1. Silver, H.K., M.D.; Glicken, A.D., M.S.W: Medical Student Abuse, JAMA 263: 527-532, 1990.

 

2. Komaromy, M., M.D.; Bindman, A.B., M.D.; Haber, R.J., M.D.; Sande, M.A., M.D.: Sexual Harassment in Medical Training. NEJM 328: 322-326, 1993.

 

3. The Early Response Group was named by the Vice Dean of Educational and Academic Affairs to serve as “ombudsman” for the Policy to Address Student Mistreatment.

 

GUIDELINES FOR THE REPORTING AND HANDLING OF INCIDENTS OF MEDICAL STUDENT MISTREATMENT OR ABUSE

 

AN INCIDENT OCCURS, which a student or group of students wish to report.

 

STUDENT REPORTS INCIDENT to one of the following:

The Early Response Group

The Vice Dean (Takes incident to Early Response Group)

An Associate Dean (Reports incident to Vice Dean or to the Early Response Group)

A Trusted Faculty Member (Reports incident to one of the above individuals/group)

A Friend (Reports incident to a faculty member, an associate dean or the Vice Dean.)

 

THE EARLY RESPONSE GROUP

Gathers information from student, others, the accused.

Notifies Legal Counsel, as it judges the need.

And facilitates resolution, whenever possible.

 

If there is no resolution…

 

THE EARLY RESPONSE GROUP

Confers with Legal Counsel…

Gathers additional information, as needed…

May report essentials of case to the…

 

FACULTY/STUDENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE, which…

Reviews the information, and makes RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION