Sexual harassment by dentists is not something that should be taken lightly. It can affect you mentally and physically, so it’s important to take the necessary steps after an assault. We live in a society where we are becoming more aware of the discrimination and abuse that occurs against women, but dentistry has been one area where this problem has been especially prevalent. In fact, 1 out of 8 female patients will experience sexual harassment from their dentist during an appointment. The following five steps can help you deal with the aftermath if you have experienced such an incident at your dental office.
Document Everything
If you have been a victim of sexual harassment from your dentist, then it is important that you document everything that has occurred. Gather any evidence that supports what you are alleging could have occurred. If there were witnesses to the event, get their contact information as well if possible. Make sure to write down exactly what happened during the incident and how you felt at the time. Finally, try to recall other times where inappropriate behavior or comments may have taken place by your dentist in the past.
Keep All Evidence Physical evidence like texts, voice mails, emails & video recordings can be collected during an investigation of sexual abuse claims at dental offices. These types of records will help reinforce your case against the dentist who abused or harassed you. It is important to keep your phone with you at all times when you are with the dentist.
Find Another Dentist
You need to find another dentist that can care for you in the future if your current dentist has sexually harassed or abused you, whether it be physical abuse or not. This may require some research on your part, but finding a new dentist who treats women respectfully shouldn’t be too difficult of an endeavor.
Report To The Appropriate Authorities
Every state in Canada will have its own procedures when dealing with sexual harassment in dental offices. If these procedures aren’t followed properly by the authorities in charge, this could lead to more damage than good for your case and even result in law enforcement agencies refusing to file a report. Verify with your state’s dental association what the proper channels are for reporting.
Contact A Personal Injury Lawyer For Help
If you’ve experienced this type of abuse or harassment, then you should contact a personal injury lawyer for help. An attorney will be able to guide you through the proper channels and present evidence in your case. They will also make sure that your rights are protected throughout the investigation process.
In order to protect yourself from abuse or harassment from a dentist, it is important that you remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings during appointments. It is all too often that women feel obligated to see their dentist even if they know that an appointment will lead to them being physically or emotionally hurt by their doctor. If you have any doubt as to whether or not the situation you are in could cause you harm, trust your gut and find another dentist to see at another time so that nothing bad happens and so that you can keep and document evidence on file against your former dentist, just in case he or she retaliates against you for standing up for yourself.
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