Protecting the Gender Rights of Healthcare Professionals in the Digital Workplace

Abstract

<p>數位科技發展迅速，增加民眾生活的便利性、擴展資訊與學習的無限性、縮短人際互動距離、豐富生活，物聯網或科技裝置於醫療場域及照護器材的使用更是日益普及。然而，數位科技及網路的發達，也使有心人藉由網路、資訊媒介或數位環境而產生的網路跟蹤、監視、騷擾、蒐集、窺視、貶抑、威脅等新興性別暴力樣態多元、層出不窮，對隱私權、人身安全造成巨大衝擊、傷害，更對社會產生廣泛的影響。在醫療照護場域中，因疾病、創傷等需要被照護者，受專業醫療或護理人員之專業悉心照護後而心生敬慕、追求甚或追蹤騷擾之案件並非少見，尤其醫護照護體系現仍以女性為多的情形下，認識數位網路科技帶來的性別暴力議題、維護醫護人員職場及生活中性平權益、專業尊嚴，實值重視，亦是醫護職場安全的重要指標之一。</p> <p> </p><p>The rapid advancement of digital technology has increased the convenience of people’s daily living, expanded the possibilities of information and learning, shortened the distance between people in interpersonal interactions, and enriched people’s lives. The Internet of Things and technological devices have been increasingly applied in medical settings and equipment. However, people with bad intentions have inflicted various forms of gender-based violence using Internet, media, or digital environment, including cyberstalking, monitoring, harassment, collecting personal information, voyeurism, disparagement, and threatening, causing serious damage to privacy and personal safety and affecting society broadly.Incidents of patients admiring, pursuing, or even stalking and harassing healthcare professionals after receiving their care are not uncommon, particularly under the circumstance that most nursing professionals are women. Understanding the issues of gender-based violence brought about by digital and Internet technologies and safeguarding the gender equality and dignity of healthcare professionals at work and in life are critical for maintaining the safety of healthcare workplaces.</p> <p> </p>