Understanding and Reporting Mistreatment

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), mistreatment – either intentional or unintentional – occurs when behavior shows disrespect for the dignity of others and unreasonably interferes with the learning process. Examples of mistreatment include:

• Sexual harassment

• Discrimination or harassment based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation

• Humiliation

• Psychological or physical punishment

• Use of grading and other forms of assessment in a punitive manner

Is This Mistreatment?

Mistreatment can take many forms. Consider the following examples to help you determine if what you experienced, witnessed, or heard about might be mistreatment. Remember, if you’re in doubt, just ask! LEO is happy to discuss anything with you before you report, and would prefer that you err on the side of reporting, because all reports are carefully examined by LEO staff in order to make this determination. You can email us for a confidential conversation.

• Sample Case 1

  Alex and Dakota are ECE students in the same PCG group. Alex has been following Dakota around campus, frequently and intentionally trying to insert themself into conversations that Dakota was involved in. Alex had on several occasions invited Dakota to “hang out”, despite Dakota clearly stating, “No,” and that they were NOT INTERESTED in hanging out. Now Dakota notices that Alex is standing outside their apartment often. Dakota has been also getting 5-10 text messages a day from Alex even though Dakota isn’t responding. Is this mistreatment?

• Case 1 Answer
  Yes. This is mistreatment and possibly sexual harassment. This potentially violates the University Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy (which includes stalking) and the faculty who received this complaint will need to report to the The Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance.
• Sample Case 2

  An MCE student is rotating through Adult Wards. The attending seems to have unreasonable expectations and doesn’t seem to understand that she is a second-year student. The student reports that the attending often belittles the student’s knowledge and skills and makes snide comments to the residents on the team. Is this mistreatment?

• Case 2 Answer

  Yes, this is mistreatment. When a person is belittling and making snide remarks this moves beyond constructive criticism and becomes mistreatment.

• Sample Case 3

  An LCE student is in their OBGYN clerkship. The student has been there for a week and is excited to get more involved in the cases. The resident tells the student, “I need you to do triage while we go in on this case,” and leaves the student behind. The student feels excluded. Is this mistreatment?

• Case 3 Answer
  No, this is not mistreatment. Although neglecting and isolating students can be mistreatment, this student was given important work to do – even if it was not what the student wanted to do.
• Sample Case 4

  A student thinks that one of their simulation faculty seems to be unduly harsh in his criticism every week, and it seems (although they cannot be sure) that they are being particularly targeted with this criticism and the student wonders if it is because of their identity. Classmates who have witnessed the harsh treatment brought up to the student that they see the faculty mistreating the student. Is this mistreatment?

• Case 4 Answer

  Yes, this is mistreatment. This is also differential treatment based on identity and is a violation of our mistreatment policy and Title IX. After receiving this concern, the faculty must also submit the concern to The Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance.

• Sample Case 5

  An LCE student received written feedback from his preceptor that he was engaged but needs to work on patient communication and needs to read more. The student is frustrated because he was never told before the written evaluation that he needed to work on patient communication and read more. Is this mistreatment?

• Case 5 Answer

  No, this is not mistreatment. Although written feedback can feel unfair and too late, getting constructive criticism is not mistreatment. Yes, the faculty member should have addressed this sooner with ideas to help the student, but this would not be mistreatment unless the faculty member wrote disparaging remarks like, “How is this student in medical school?”