Healthcare institutions must tackle sexually transgressive behavior at an earlier stage. Not only after there has been an incident, but preventively. In addition, staff should be given more information, the Health and Youth Inspectorate writes the report Supervision of a safe care relationship.
Every year, the Inspectorate receives approximately 140 reports of sexually inappropriate behavior by healthcare providers. “We think it is quite an under-reporting,” said Deputy Chief Inspector Erwin Pietersma.
This is imaginable when you consider that the Inspectorate covers all care institutions, from hospitals, youth care, mental healthcare providers, care for the elderly, dentists to care in penitentiary institutions. The reports range from sexually explicit comments and messages to unnecessary stripping, assault and rape.
Pietersma: “Clients need to know that they are safe in the relationship with the care provider. There are situations in which things slide from positive, constructive and professional to a relationship that is not appropriate, that crosses a patient’s personal boundaries, or that it exceeds the limits of what you can expect from a professional.”
Part of life
The standard is strict, emphasizes Pietersma: any form of sexually transgressive behavior is damaging and therefore not permissible. But according to the inspector, such a strict standard can mean that care providers, for example, do not report if they are in love with a client.
He emphasizes that sexuality should be discussed in a familiar and healthy way, especially in long-term care in an institution. After all, it is part of life, and therefore also part of good care. This can be difficult, but according to the Inspectorate it is important to prevent damage caused by inappropriate behaviour.
The Inspectorate will broaden its supervision and therefore aims to no longer just respond to reports, but to develop a more anticipatory method.
The managers and care providers must talk to each other and reflect on sexuality. What do you do if someone suspects sexually transgressive behaviour? Are the correct steps taken after a report? Is a hand on a shoulder okay or not? “Institutions already have a lot of knowledge about this subject,” says Pietersma. “But we need to talk more about it.”
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