Dutch healthcare institutions often have no preventive policy against sexual cross -border behavior; They often only take action afterwards. Last year, the Health Care and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) received 330 reports of sexual cross -border behavior from care providers towards patients and clients, shows A study published Tuesday.
In 84 percent of the cases it concerned a physical incident, such as an unwanted touch, or sexual act or rape “under the guise of medical actions.” Other examples are sending sexually tinted messages or an unnecessary disaster. Women, 67 percent, in particular fell victim. Most reports were made in the care for the disabled (90 reports), followed by mental health care (80).
‘Top of the iceberg’
The number of 330 reports that the IGJ received is approximately equal to 2023. The inspection suspects that the actual number is higher and that this is just the ‘top of iceberg’, since the scientific research and data center (WODC) previously noted That more than 11,000 people in 2024 had to deal with sexually tinted cross -border behavior by a care provider.
According to the inspection, work has been done in youth and disabled care on guidelines to prevent sexual cross-border behavior. This is much less the case in mental health care and nursing homes.
According to Mariëtte Hamer, government commissioner sexual cross -border behavior, the healthcare sector has underestimated the problem ‘too long’. “Sexual cross -border behavior by a care provider is almost unimaginable, but unfortunately the figures are that it is too much,” Hamer responds. “The conversations I have, shows how large and often the impact is for a long time.”
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