Bullying and Harassment
Definitions
FAQ
Why is it important to denounce problematic situations?
This is the only way for universities to learn about issues in certain settings or about problematic behaviors that your colleagues, residents or supervisors have. This helps adjust the focus before these issues reoccur with other students, patients or healthcare professionals. By denouncing, you become actors for the improvement of the medical training of our health system.
How do universities make sure my denunciation is anonymous?
The faculties of medicine ensure that your complaints (whether made through a website of your university or via your internship evaluation) are not automatically forwarded to the internship settings. Reviews are anonymous and a period of several months is applied to avoid having your name attached to your community review.
What steps are taken once the problematic situation has been identified?
Usually, if the complaint is well described, the faculties will be able to meet the actors of the problematic situation (whether students, residents or bosses) so that the situation does not happen again. If several complaints are made and there is no change in the behavior of the actors involved, further action will be taken on a case-by-case basis. Of course, these steps are not publicized, but be aware that they are being done.
How can I make identifying the problematic situation as helpful as possible for universities?
It is important to report the most concrete facts possible to the faculty. This will address the specific problem you are breaking the silence about and help come up with concrete solutions.
Harassment
Psychological harassment is conduct that manifests itself in repeated behavior, words or actions:
- that are hostile or unwanted;
- that violate the dignity or psychological or physical integrity of the student or employee;
- that make the work or study environment harmful.
This conduct may or may not be based on one of the discriminatory grounds prohibited by the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms (race, skin color, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, age except to the extent provided for by law, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, handicap or use of a means to overcome this handicap) *.
Bullying
Bullying is made up of words, actions and behaviors that hurt, humiliate or socially exclude someone. These actions may or may not be intentional, but have the effect of hurting, harming, isolating, threatening, controlling, punishing or lowering self-esteem **.
* This definition comes from the sites of the FMSS of the Université Sherbrooke and the BIMH of the Université de Montréal.
** This definition comes from the FMRQ and Tel-Jeunes.
Resources for all medical students in Quebec and Moncton:
There are different resources to help you report situations of mistreatment. To find out who to contact, please refer to the resource guide available on your respective campus.
Quebec physicians’ health program.
Contact the QPHP in order to have psychological help or anonymous advices.
Website: www.pamq.org
Phone number: 1(800) 387-4166