PETALING JAYA: It was during the end of a long shift at the hospital when houseman Michelle (not her real name) was told that her department head wanted to meet her over work-related reasons.
In actual fact, he had a more sinister intention in mind.
“He then grabbed me and started to unbutton my shirt and kiss my lips,” said the 27-year-old.
“He said he was going to give me his ‘blessings’. I pushed him away and ran out of the room.
“I was shocked and depressed. I cried, I was disgusted,” she said.
The incident isn’t an isolated one. Michelle said throughout her posting, the doctor had touched her inappropriately, demanding that she went out drinking with him.
“He would tell me to drink almost all the drinks he ordered and would try to grab my breasts after I become tipsy.
“He asked me to send him home so we can continue, but I always managed to find excuses,” she said, adding that he would ask her to go out drinking with him at least twice a week.
The houseman said she felt pressured to comply with his demands as he had threatened to fail her if she did not do as he said.
“He told me and the others that there was a non-academic component to our test, and if we don’t follow his orders, we would be failed,” she said.
Michelle lodged a police report last October. To this day, no action has been taken.
Michelle is one of many house officers who had fallen prey to the sexual advances and threats of the man, who is the Orthopaedics department head in a hospital in the Klang Valley.
The predator targets young female housemen whom he felt were powerless against him as he ruled the department with an iron fist and had the power to fail them.
The Star contacted these victims who wanted their stories heard.
Another houseman said the department head was relentless in making sexual advances toward her, throughout her six-month stint at the hospital.
“Whenever he is bored, he would call me to his office to talk about sex,” she said.
An incident that has since been etched in her mind happened during a physical exercise activity at the hospital.
The department head touched her breasts while she was in an exercise position.
She said he had even gone to her residence and sent photos of it to her via WhatsApp.
She concurred with Michelle that he had a habit of asking housemen to drink with him, and would try to get the housemen drunk while they were out.
Another houseman, who only wanted to be known as Sarah, said she was warned of the department head’s behaviour at the start of her posting.
“I made sure I went to his office with my friend as I needed a photo with him for a report.
“When I was taking the photo, he pinched me – at the braline.
“I gave him a cold stare to which he said: ‘I can do this because I am a father to you all’,” said the houseman who had left the hospital since.
She said that he would pester her about bringing along her bikini while they were on a trip to a medical conference in another state.
“Another request I did not submit to.”
She said after realising she would not fall prey to his advances, he started bullying her by putting her on 36-hour shifts on consecutive days.
The specialists at the hospital were unable to do anything as they too were afraid of losing their positions, she said.
Another houseman revealed that the department head would “corner” her at the end of her shift, asking her to carry his bag to his car.
“When we were alone, he suddenly said he wanted to take a selfie.
“Since our bodies were close when taking the picture, he kissed my cheek,” said the 27-year-old.
A 32-year-old, who is now a medical officer elsewhere, said the department head would always blame the victims instead.
“One day he invited me out for some drinks, and I felt I could not say ‘no’ so I went along. I was a bit drunk and he then told me to send him back to his house.
“The next morning, I felt uneasy and he accused me of trying to seduce and kiss him instead.
“I was scared of destroying my career, so I didn’t say much and left it at that.
“Many of us had studied hard to enter our housemanship, so we do not want to jeopardise it,” she said.
Health minister vows to uncover sexual predator hospital department head
KUALA LUMPUR ― Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad promised today that his ministry will investigate a hospital head of department accused of being a sexual predator in a news report today.
“To those who asked about the case the ministry will get to the bottom of this,” he said on his Twitter account.
“I want to assure you all especially the aggrieved victims,” he added, referring to the house officers.
Dzulkefly Ahmad@DrDzulKpd semua yg bertanya mengenai kes ini…”A sex predator in the house”…MOH will get to the bottom of this…I want to assure you all…esp the aggrieved victims (HOs).The Star@staronline
A sex predator is in the house http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/29/a-sex-predator-is-in-the-house-housemen-relate-horror-stories-of-seniors-who-abuse-position/ …
The Star reported today several victims’ complaint of an Orthopaedics head of department in a Klang Valley public hospital, who allegedly sexually harrassed and made sexual advances against house officers.
The report said the doctor would target young female house officers, who were vulnerable since he has the authority to fail their housemanship.
A medical graduate has to complete their housemanship before they are able to serve as a medical officer.
A housemanship usually runs for two years. If a house officer is failed by their superiors, they would have to extend their term. A maximum term for a housemanship is three and a half years.
One of the victims interviewed even said that she had lodged a police report last year, but no action was taken. – MALAY MAIL
ANN / MALAY MAIL
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