Under the stethoscope: Exposing the chilling reality of sexual abuse in healthcare settings

Renal doctor Dias Juma Wabwire when he appeared before a Mombasa court yesterday. He denied charges of raping a patient at Pandya Hospital. He was released on a bond of Sh500,000. The case will be mentioned on February 17 for pretrial. [Kelvin Karani, Standard] In the hushed halls of hospitals, where life teeters between being revived and slipping away, patients place their trust in healthcare professionals, hoping their well being will be carefully guarded. For many, these visits are moments of profound vulnerability, needing compassion and attention. But what happens when those we trust most with our fragility choose to exploit it? Earlier this month a Clinical Officer at Pandya Hospital, Mombasa was charged with sexually assaulting a patient. He was arraigned before a Mombasa court on two charges of rape and committing indecent act with an adult. He denied all charges. According to the charges, the offence occurred between October 24, 2024- January 31, 2025. This brought the question how many patients have been sexually assaulted by medics and have not reported? How, many patients are even aware they were sexually assaulted? "I was 16 years old when I visited a certain dental clinic for a checkup, while I laid there, I felt his hand on my arm, but I did not think much of it. Then he slowly moved his hand to my breast and started fondling them. I was shocked, he noticed my reaction and he stopped," recounts 25-year-old Cynthia Nyaboke*. Cynthia says that she would have handled things differently if it happened now. "I was young; I did not even have a name for what he did to me. I just remember telling my mother I did not want to go to that dentist again," she adds. Lisa Njeri* shares a similar story; "I was around 23, when I went for a dental check up and then the male dentist started touching my breasts. When I looked at him he stopped, so I thought maybe I was overthinking. I went back the second time, this time to have the tooth extracted, and that is when things became more uncomfortable. He was pressing on my breast without shame. I couldn't shout because he had put the dental instruments in my mouth, but I made a sound and he stopped. I didn't confront him, but I remember crying so hard when I got back home," she says. Lisa says that she swore never to be attended to by a male doctor again. "I will wait for a female doctor. It doesnt matter how long," she says. Jane Mwakio*, 31, also swears never to be attended to by a male healthcare professional again, after an unpleasant experience with a gynecologist. "I had gone for a pap smear, and the doctor asked be to fully undress. I had searched online about pap smears and learnt that some doctors can ask you to remove your clothes from the waist down and others will ask to get completely naked if there's going to be a breast exam, so I did it," she recalls. But he started making weird comments that made her feel uncomfortable. "First, I was wearing waist beads, so he said, "I love women in waist beads, they are sexy". Then when he started the examination, he inserted the spatula and remarked that I have a tight vagina. Then when he removed the spatula he asked me to smell it. I don't know if that is how it should be done, but I swore never to be examined by a male gynecologist," she says. Mercy Akinyi*, 25, had a very traumatic experience with a male healthcare professional, who asked to have an intimate relationship with her, if she really wanted to cure her cramps. "I have severe period cramps. I had been frequenting this clinic near my estate. The doctor there would make sexual comments at me during my visits, but I used to ignore him. Then this particular day, my cramps were so severe, so instead of giving me the usual injection, he told me to lie on the bed then he started massaging my stomach. It was very uncomfortable, so I tried to sit up, only to realise that he had an erection. Stunned, I told him I wanted to leave," she narrates That is when he suggested a non-conventional way to ease the pain. "I was frightened. He told me that he can help me ease the pain if I agreed to sleep with him. By this time, he had his manhood out. I stormed out frightened and crying, I never reported him, and I never went back," she says. Impregnated while incapacitated In 2021 in the US, an Arizona man, a nurse was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting an incapacitated woman who gave birth at a clinic where she was under his care.He was arrested in 2018 after his DNA matched a sample from the newborn. The victim, who has severe disabilities was 29 years old at the time of the baby's birth, and had reportedly been in the care of the clinic since she was a toddler. The court report from the family doctor stated that there were signs indicating that, that may not have been the first time she was pregnant. "The examination found lacerations that were old and already healed that were "not caused as a result of this delivery." Still in the US, in 1996, hospital staff discovered that a 29-year-old woman who had been in a coma for 10 years was pregnant, another case of rape. Doctors assaulted by patients In hospitals, not just patients are at risk, some doctors have also had uncomfortable experiences with patients. Dr Peter Chweya*, a gynecologist he remembers one experience that changed the way he interacts with his patients. "The first incident happened when I was young and fresh from school, and one of his female patients made advances at him. She was 43 years old. She claimed she had pain in her breast, so I asked to examine her, she removed her top and bra, and while I examined her, she said; "Why are you shy, press them like you mean it," I sensed danger, so I stopped," recounts. He asked her to dress up and, suddenly, she became aggressive. "She pulled me closer, grabbed my crotch and told me unprintable words. I had to calmly tell her that we could pick it up after work. I was scared she was going to accuse me of sexually assault her. That seemed to convince her to leave, I promised myself to never examine a patient without a nurse present," he says. How do Medical Unions and The Council handle cases of misconduct? According to George Gibore, the Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), allegations of sexual harassment are taken with the utmost seriousness. The union remains committed to upholding professional ethics, ensuring due process, and safeguarding both the patient and the clinical officer who has been accused. "As such, we advocate for a fair and transparent process in handling such allegations. We will work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that complaints are taken seriously and investigated professionally within the legal framework and clinical officers' policy, which guides our practice," he says. Gibore adds that the Union encourages victims to report through the proper channels to ensure their interests are safeguarded. "We actively promote awareness to ensure that we can prevent such incidents from recurring. We will ensure that awareness training on professional conduct, workplace ethics, and patient rights are well supported," says Gibore. Gibore further states that the Union will support the implementation of a strict sexual harassment policy and encourage institutions to establish clear reporting systems and disciplinary mechanisms to deter similar actions. "We will continue to engage with the employer to ensure due process is followed when addressing allegations. This includes ensuring impartial investigations, fair disciplinary action when warranted, and ensuring both the accused and the complainant are treated with dignity and respect," he concludes. If the clinical officer is found guilty, Gibore says the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in line with labour laws, professional regulations, and institutional policy. The Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Association (KMA), Dr Diana Marion, stresses that patient safety in Kenya requires strong regulation of all healthcare professionals. However, Dr Marion insists that regulatory frameworks for doctors and other healthcare cadres differ, leading to gaps in oversight, professional accountability, and quality assurance. Understanding these differences helps identify weaknesses that may compromise patient safety. Doctors in Kenya, including medical officers and specialists, are regulated by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). This framework emphasises professional standards and ethics. KMPDC enforces strict ethical guidelines that govern medical practice, patient consent, confidentiality, and duty of care. "The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) provides additional professional self-regulation through peer review, mentorship, and advocacy for high medical standards. KMA has a standing committee that is keen on ethical practice and a document that clearly outlines ethical and standards expectations for all our members," says Dr Marion. Scope of practice Dr Marion adds that KMPDC has a well-defined process for handling patient complaints and investigating malpractice cases. Sanctions range from warnings and fines to suspension or revocation of medical licences. Additionally, there should be stronger institutional oversight and quality audits, where healthcare facilities must implement clinical governance frameworks that standardise patient safety audits, performance reviews, and risk mitigation strategies. Dr Marion insists on clearer role definitions between doctors and clinical officers. "Policies should clearly define the scope of practice for clinical officers, ensuring they work within their competencies," she says. The Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Dennis Miskella, described all sexual assault allegations as criminal cases that should be reported to the police. "KMPDC also conducts its own internal investigation. KMPDU does not condone any form of abuse of patients' rights by doctors. We also outlaw any form of sexual harassment among our members or secretariat. As we speak, we are in the process of implementing our sexual harassment policy," he says. According to KMPDC, doctors who fail to adhere to the strict regulations that govern their profession face penalties, but this starts with an investigation to determine their culpability. Some of the punishments include the revocation of their practising licences and even deregistration. For those whose registration is based on particular malpractices, they are required to return to medical school. The council has various procedures to punish doctors who may have caused harm to a patient. The mechanism will ascertain whether what the doctor did was within the accepted standards, and whether their actions or inactions could have affected the outcome of the patient's treatment. If found guilty, the council will revoke the doctor's licence, and in cases of gross misconduct, the doctor may be deregistered. Deregistration may also include criminal mistakes that result in court proceedings.

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