Patient And Coworker Mistreatment Of Physicians With Disabilities

Abstract

Physicians from underrepresented groups are at greater risk of experiencing mistreatment from coworkers and patients, including offensive remarks, physical harm, threats of physical harm, and unwanted sexual advances. These can have far-reaching negative consequences for the physicians' personal and professional lives. This study used data from a nationally representative sample of physicians to examine workplace mistreatment experienced by physicians with disabilities and determine whether physicians with disabilities are more likely to experience mistreatment in their workplace than physicians without disabilities. Compared with their nondisabled peers, physicians with disabilities had a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing every type of mistreatment from both patients and coworkers. Our findings suggest the need for disability-focused anti-mistreatment policies and practices.