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In January 2019, four chief doctors reported to the Stockholm Medical Association and the Karolinska Medical Association to the Ombudsman Against Discrimination (DO). Doctors criticized how the associations acted in a case in which a doctor alerted about anti-Semitic harassment at Karolinska University Hospital.
The DO states in a new supervisory decision that the Swedish Medical Association has discriminated against the doctor in question, who is also a member of the association.
In the investigation, the DO has taken note of audio recordings where it appears that a union representative informed the doctor that the union did not intend to present the allegation of anti-Semitism to the employer. This is because it could damage the union’s relationship with the employer.
This message is a violation of the prohibition of discrimination, believes the DO.
– DO’s assessment is that the member has not been able to interpret the message in any other way than that the union, concerned about its relationship with the employer, has not been willing to represent the member or any other member who feels discriminated against on anti-Semitic grounds, says Martin Mörk, Deputy Ombudsman Against Discrimination, in a press release.
According to the DO’s assessment, although there are many indications that the union representative in the context given to the message did not realize the “discriminatory relevance” of the allegations of anti-Semitism made by the affiliate, but instead judged that it was a matter of the police and prosecution.
However, it does not excuse that the doctor was not encouraged to make a report, says DO.
The DO also makes the assessment »that such notice would not have been given to another member who similarly made accusations of discrimination linked, for example, to gender or disability. This means that the member here has been treated worse than another member in a comparable situation would have been treated. In this way, the disadvantage has also been objectively linked to the member’s ethnicity. ‘
Johan Styrud, President of the Stockholm Medical Association, comments on the DO’s decision:
– It is sad that they make such a comment about the Swedish Medical Association. The Karolinska Medical Association does not receive any criticism, but they do criticize the officials of the Stockholm Medical Association, where they rely on short excerpts from a recorded conversation lasting an hour and a half. So an official should never say something that can be interpreted incorrectly, he tells Läkartidningen
Johan Styrud claims that the Stockholm Medical Association has reviewed their routines and that work on core values is underway.
– Then I regret the whole assessment, but DO must be responsible for what they think. Not much can be done about it.
Do you not agree with the DO’s conclusions?
– I find it hard to understand, but that’s the way it is. But we take it for granted and change our routines and have a continuous work on core values. We have been working on this since the case began.
In the investigation, the DO has also examined whether the Swedish Medical Association in other respects has not provided support to the member for reasons related to their ethnic origin. In this case, the DO makes the assessment that the research does not support that the Swedish Medical Association discriminates against the member.
The current case of alleged harassment on anti-Semitic grounds at Karolinska University Hospital has led to three cases of supervision in the DO.
In January this year, DO criticized Karolinska University Hospital for not having sufficiently investigated the alleged harassment. The third oversight case, regarding whether the doctor was retaliated against, is still ongoing.
Read more:
Karolinska receives criticism for lack of investigation for discrimination
DO investigates retaliation against a Jewish doctor in Karolinska
Karolinska reassigns doctors accused of anti-Semitism
Karolinska did not act fast enough on accusations of anti-Semitism
The case of anti-Semitism in Karolinska: reports of medical associations DO.
125 doctors harshly criticize KS medical association after anti-Semitic harassment
KS Läkarförening creates a working group for discrimination issues
Medical association responds to criticism after discussions on anti-Semitism
Lakartidningen.se
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