Bullying in Medicine... the Hard Way!

Despite the challenges I’ve faced throughout the ten years of my career, I am thankful for the lessons learned, even from the darkest times. It’s certain that everyone will encounter difficult moments in both their careers and personal lives, marked by uncertainty, pressure, and emotional strain. 

From my experience, the hardest situations aren’t always the immediate pressures of work—like a tough patient or an overwhelming task—but the negative emotions that linger, leaving deep emotional scars. These scars are more difficult to heal than any physical challenge. 

Early on, I had viewed “bullying” as school kids making fun of everyone. However, in the professional world—especially healthcare—bullying can take many forms. I learned this firsthand during my time as a Dental SHO in a hospital. While the hospital’s town itself was nice and peaceful, the work environment was toxic, turning my life into a nightmare. Because I was the newest and least experienced member of the team, I was the most “vulnerable” in the eyes of others. People who bully are not a monolith nor an archetype; they can be anyone. It could be a senior consultant, your Rota coordinator, a registrar, or even a colleague who you work with during the day or handover to them in the evening.   

The bullying ranged from being ignored when greeting colleagues to having my learning opportunities undermined, and even being blamed for mistakes that weren’t mine. This constant harassment led me to question my worth and whether I was even fit for a career in medicine. From long, difficult nights of crying and desperate Duaa, to having long solo walks for fresh air amid covid, to speaking with family and friends, Allah allowed me to get through it all. 

The turning point, for me, came when I gained the trust of the senior team members, and I was honored by a heartfelt reference letter from the clinical lead.

From this experience, I learned many valuable lessons. First, maintain your integrity and ethical standards, no matter how difficult things are. As Allah instructs us in the Quran, we should “speak kindly to people” (Baqara 2:83), regardless of our personal feelings. I also learned that people are more perceptive than we realize; they often notice when you’re struggling, even before you express it. Don’t hesitate to seek support but always avoid being confrontational or rude. Lastly, I learned not to judge others based on what I heard. It’s often the case that people are often better than we expect. As Allah says, “Good and evil cannot be equal. Respond to evil with what is best, and the one you are in a feud with will be like a close friend” (Fussilat 41:34). 

Ultimately, this difficult chapter helped me build resilience, sharpen my ethical principles, and reinforced the importance of kindness, even in challenging times.