The harassment and stalking of plastic surgeons by their patients in Australasia

Abstract Medical professionals come into direct contact with the public. The relationships are often personal. The aim of the survey is to examine the prevalence of harassment of plastic surgeons by their patients. Survey questionnaires were mailed to all plastic surgeons listed in the 1999 Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery List of Members. A very wide definition of harassment was then provided and information in regard to the nature of the harassment was obtained. This was a descriptive survey of plastic surgeons' experiences of harassment by patients in Australia and New Zealand. More than half of the plastic surgeons in Australia and New Zealand who responded to the questionnaire reported having been a victim of harassment at some point of their careers. One quarter had been harassed in the previous year. Over 20% of cases met the legal criteria for stalking. These estimates are in excess of those reported in the other studies of the general community. Harassment persisted in the majority of cases for at least a month and in a third of cases for up to 5 years. The recognition of psychiatric disorder, particularly personality dysfunction, prior to embarking on surgery may limit the likelihood of harassment by difficult patients. Formal teaching may be helpful to surgical registrars and consultants. Expert intervention could assist in reducing clinician anxiety.