@article {Margittai377, author = {Katalin J. Margittai and Rebeka Moscarello and Miriam F. Rossi}, title = {Forensic Aspects of Medical Student Abuse: A Canadian Perspective}, volume = {24}, number = {3}, pages = {377--385}, year = {1996}, publisher = {Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online}, abstract = {The mistreatment and consequences of mistreatment involving medical students have only recently been recognized and studied. This article reports on the nature, frequency, and sequelae of {\textquotedblleft}abuse{\textquotedblright} that is prohibited by the Criminal Code of Canada, as experienced by fourth year medical students. A 160-item, multiple choice questionnaire, the Medical Student Abuse Survey (MSAS), was administered on a voluntary and anonymous basis in February 1992 and 1993 at the University of Toronto (Canada) Faculty of Medicine. All students enrolled in their fourth year (n = 500) were eligible. Of those present when the survey was administered (n = 415), 72.5 percent (301 of 415) responded. Of all respondents, 8.3 percent (25 of 301) experienced either threats of bodily harm, assault, or assault with a weapon; 12.6 percent (38 of 301) experienced physical sexual advances; four students experienced both. Perpetrators were most often clinicians in a surgical setting. Only about one-third of these students (21 of 59) complained to someone in a position of authority within the medical school, and no one reported these incidents to the police. There is a need within medical training programs to disseminate a {\textquotedblleft}code of conduct to all parties, familiarize students with complaint procedures, and improve the identification and rehabilitation of perpetrators. The lack of objective measures for verifying students{\textquoteright} experiences of abuse remains a limitation of this study.}, issn = {1093-6793}, URL = {https://jaapl.org/content/24/3/377}, eprint = {https://jaapl.org/content/24/3/377.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online} }