Two Greek Australian surgeons have been named as perpetrators in a growing toxic hospital culture in Australia.
In a Four Corners investigation, Dr Chris Xenos and Dr Helen Maroulis were singled out for inciting fear and stress in their co-workers, with Xenos also being accused of sexual harassment.
The two were part of a large investigation into the state of the medical teaching culture in Australia, where it was revealed that one in five medical students have had thoughts of suicide in the previous year.
One in twenty doctors also admitted to suffering stress from bullying in the workplace.
According to neurosurgeon Dr Caroline Tan, her former supervisor Dr Chris Xenos exposed himself and asked her to perform a sexual act.
After bringing the harassment to the management of Monash Medical Centre, Dr Tan was subjected to severe character assassinations and was not taken seriously by management.
The matter was taken to the Victorian Criminal and Administrative Tribunal, where judge Marilyn Harbison found Dr Xenos had attempted to smear Dr Tan’s character by “exploring every possible aspect of her professional competence [and] taking advantage of his position of power over her”.
Monash Medical Centre is now investigating another surgeon, Dr Helen Maroulis for bullying and intimidating staff.
Former staff member, Imogen Ibbett says some days after working alongside Dr Maroulis, she would go home distraught.
“I remember days when I would go home and just cry, just sit in a dark room and just cry,” Dr Ibbett told Four Corners.
“We’re so vulnerable anyway when we’re at that junior stage in our career, and really all the way through our training we’re very, very vulnerable.”
Source: ABC
