Worries about being labelled “unprofessional” are preventing medical students from speaking out about concerns related to their education and clinical placements, according to a new survey.
One-third of medical students claim they have unfairly been called “unprofessional” at least once, according to a report from the British Medical Association (BMA), which calls for a reset in how professional standards are understood and used by medical schools.
Medical students are held to the same professional standards expected of doctors, as set out by the General Medical Council (GMC) and medical schools. Students can have concerns about their conduct raised against them by their educators, clinicians, fellow students, patients and members of the public.
But the BMA, which represents doctors in the UK, has warned the concept of “professionalism” is being used by medical schools to “suppress valid student concerns” and control student behaviour.
In a new report from the union, based on a national survey of 2,573 medical students, respondents describe a “tick-box” culture focused on attendance monitoring, behavioural compliance and administrative infractions, rather than professional development and support.
