Raising Awareness Towards Discrimination and Abuse Towards Physician Associates

Addressing Discrimination and Abuse Towards Physician Associates 

Petition Description:

This petition seeks to highlight and address the growing concern of abuse, discrimination, and hostility faced by Physician Associates (PAs) within the healthcare system, particularly from members of the multidisciplinary team, including doctors. Over recent years, an alarming number of PAs have left the profession due to experiences of bullying, harassment, isolation, unfair treatment, and professional undermining.

We aim to gather signatures from individuals, PAs and other healthcare workers alike, who have either personally experienced or witnessed such treatment, to demonstrate that this is not an isolated issue but a widespread, systemic problem. Our collective voice is needed to bring this issue to the forefront and urge action from regulatory bodies. Abuse in any form should not be tolerated and should be managed accordingly. Illegal online hate speech and harrassment should have repercussions and methods in place to decrease the frequency and severity as the online hate community has gotten out of hand, especially on Reddit and X, where staying anonymous has allowed individuals to share nasty, inappropriate content.

Our goals:

1. To raise awareness of the scale of hostility and discrimination faced by PAs.

2. To urge the General Medical Council (GMC) to take greater responsibility in promoting a more respectful and collaborative working culture across all healthcare professions, including:

   • Actively supporting and endorsing the role of PAs through positive publicity and education.

   • Enforcing its professional standards and zero-tolerance stance on bullying, harassment, and unprofessional behaviour within the teams it regulates.

   • Promoting interprofessional respect and teamwork to ensure a safe, inclusive, and effective healthcare environment for all.

This petition is not about division, it is about unity, safety, and professionalism. Every healthcare professional deserves to work in an environment free from discrimination and hostility.

If you have witnessed or experienced any of the above issues, please add your name to help drive the change that our profession and patients deserve.

Physician Associate    Contact the author of the petition