Yet another sorry story of a prestigious man with a disgusting habit.
John Kearsley, the director of radiation oncology at St George Hospital and conjoint professor of medicine at the University of NSW, gave depressant drugs known as benzodiazepines to the 32-year-old and touched her inappropriately.
That’s the sanitized, softened-down version of what he did — you’d have to read the whole thing to get the details.
But look (he says, sarcastically), this is a MAN who dedicated his LIFE to FIGHTING CANCER … I’m sure someone somewhere would like to argue that we ought to cut him a little slack, and allow him to occasionally slip a mickey to women half his age and drag them into bed for a nice fondling. Won’t medicine grind to a halt if we don’t?
Less sarcastically, I wonder how one gets to be 63 years old, at the top of their profession, director of a major subdivision of a hospital, and still think one can get away with drugging women for sex. These kinds of behaviors don’t just suddenly manifest in a one time accident — I bet he has a long history of these or lesser transgressions, yet no one had qualms about promoting him ever upwards.
What makes this worse is that such rape offenses have been ongoing in the medical profession for years.
I’m past the point of even being surprised. Instead, I’m just getting paranoid about what’s going on at my own university that I don’t know about.
Not just a problem with the medical profession, or science. The name “Bill Cosby” should come to mind immediately. It apparently can happen any time the right (poor word choice?) sort of man occupies a position of authority and/or trust, even if he’s not a real doctor but only plays one on TV.
People make the mistake of thinking that because one does good things one must be a good person, but this simply is not the case. Fighting cancer, however noble a cause it may be, is this man’s profession. It’s a career, and, moreover, a career that provides plenty of recompense apart from the fuzzy feeling one may or may not get when helping people in need. I’m sure this man saved a lot of lives… and I’m sure he billed every goddamned one of them for the expense.
You go into Oncology to show your medical school classmates that you’ve got big brass balls and can really walk the walk. And you make a good living as an Oncologist, better than primary care. And hospitals are full of women. Full. Almost always in a subordinate position to yours. “Fighting cancer” and being a “good person” doesn’t have to enter into it. Not even one little bit.
I await the defenses of his behavior that make it sound for all the world like sexually assaulting and/or harassing women is part and parcel of being at the top of any scientific field, and without accommodating sexual assault and harassment, there will never be another bit of scientific progress made again.
But obviously we can’t punish him. Not unless we want all those people he saved to get cancer again.
It appears the University is handling this appropriately.
“However, in a statement the spokesperson said, “even though not an employee of UNSW, the holder of an academic title conferred by UNSW must comply with UNSW’s Code of Conduct”.
“UNSW’s position is that the conduct to which Dr Kearsley has reportedly pleaded guilty is entirely inconsistent with UNSW’s Code of Conduct.”
The University appears to be doing the right thing.
“However, in a statement the spokesperson said, “even though not an employee of UNSW, the holder of an academic title conferred by UNSW must comply with UNSW’s Code of Conduct”.
“UNSW’s position is that the conduct to which Dr Kearsley has reportedly pleaded guilty is entirely inconsistent with UNSW’s Code of Conduct.
“On that basis, UNSW is reviewing Dr Kearsley’s conjoint appointment.”
Because getting away with that has been the norm for his entire career. Him, Cosby, and way too many other men have learned from experience that one CAN get away with that behavior, and it’s only in the last couple years that that has started – too slowly – to change.
But, but, but, the poor guy says he can’t remember anything and that he is totally horrified if he did something like that, because you usually put drugs into people’s drinks for totally benevolent reasons, especially young women you lured into your home with a proposal of professional mentorship…
John Harshman @ 3:
No, of course it isn’t. That said, as someone who spends too much time in a medical environment, I can barely describe to you the immediate rush of feelings I get every time I read about someone engaging in sexual assault in a hospital / medical environment. People tend to be in a highly vulnerable state when they are in a medical establishment, and I doubt I need to point out the opportunity to not only drug people, but to get away with drugging people, and having plausible deniability if a patient reports an assault.
Hospitals, much like cop shops everywhere, have a long history of covering up for their own, and often “solving” the problem by managing to get an offender moved off to a different hospital, where they carry on whatever the fuck it is they are doing.
I’m already a compleat control freak due to past assaults/rapes, however, when I’m at the hospital or pain clinic, my procedures involve being drugged. This sort of shit does not help.
Intaglio @1: violation of patients is part of standard medical training. Performing pelvic exams on unconscious female patients for training purposes is a long-standing practice that teaching hospitals and doctors have defended as medically necessary, because, you know, if you ASK for consent they’d probably just say no and then the entire profession would implode.
(Never mind that it’s also possible to use paid volunteers, instead of digitally raping patients, but that would involve treating patients as human beings entitled to dignity and respect, and God knows we can’t have that nonsense getting into their pretty little heads.)
Disgusting. And I bet ya this is the opening for a long series of women coming forward. And other people knew about them. These things often turn into but tips of an iceberg.
This is so depressing. It’s yet another wake-up call of the ways that it’s easier to be a guy (not that it’s easy to be a guy, just easier). While I know guys get dosed from time to time, it’s not something I’ve ever had to worry about. One of my friends was once secretly given acid in a drink, but not so someone could sexually assault him. It was supposed to be a joke by someone he knew. Fucking funny, haha, (/snark); he thought he was losing his mind. He wasn’t even a stranger to acid, but it makes a big difference when one knows what is happening.
I never understood the criticisms against the drug-detecting nail polish**. Obviously, the most important goal is to change society, but I don’t see how a tool to fight these assholes in the here-and-now takes away from that.
The article mentions that “it implies that it’s the woman’s fault and assumes responsibility on her behalf, and detracts from the real issues that arise from sexual violence” but, even before this invention, there were the “you shouldn’t have left your drink alone” & “you’d be safer if you didn’t go to bars” & “what were you wearing?” blame-shifts.
Even still, it’s revolting to consider a need for someone to test drinks that are given to them by potential professional mentors.
**If someone agrees with the criticisms and has a perspective I haven’t thought about, I’m open to new information.
Re: LykeX (#2):
Indeed, I’m just astonished this guy might face some actual consequences beyond having to feign embarrassment.
Golgafrinchan Captain @15: re: nail polish – the primary “date rape” drug is actually alcohol (waiting until the victim is drunk of her own volition, spiking a drink with extra alcohol, buying them drinks they feel obligated to accept because social conditioning), so for the vast majority of cases, this wouldn’t get detected. I’m wary of the ability of one compound to test for a multitude of other drugs that may be used, and sticking your finger in every drink (potentially before every sip – a drug could be slipped in to a half-consumed drink while you’re chatting or otherwise distracted) is unweildy and definitely not sanitary.
And just because those other blame-shifts exist, doesn’t mean they were right. Nobody should have to spend their social time wondering if they’re going to be drugged, whether it’s for a prank or to facilitate sexual assault.
Golgafrinchan Captain @ 15:
You answered yourself: it’s revolting to consider a need for anyone to test their drink. Full stop, no qualifiers.
Why should it be on me to make sure I wear a certain nail polish (what if I don’t wear the stuff or don’t like it?) or to carry special straws, or what the fuck ever else someone comes up with to make sure I’m not being drugged? Why in the fuckety fuck is the onus always on the woman to prevent herself from being raped (which only means a different woman will be raped)? Why don’t women have the right to go out and have a drink (or three) without being armed to the teeth with all manner of “rape preventatives”? How effective are those things, given that the highest incidence of rape is acquaintance or date rape? How do they work in cases of rape inside a relationship? Women are getting increasingly frustrated and angry over the persistence of placing the blame squarely on their shoulders. Special nail polish, special straws, it’s just another thing to add to the everlasting laundry list of blame. Also, alcohol loading is the favoured method these days, not drugs. How good is that shit in such cases?
Regulars here know I’m a major fan of the Don’t Be That Guy campaign, because it puts the onus of rape prevention exactly where it fucking belongs: on those who might rape. As a woman who has been raped, as a woman who has been a counselor and advocate for those who have been assaulted or raped, I am beyond sick to fucking death of every single instance that once again, places responsibility for rape on those who are most victimized. Rape culture thrives, in large part because men just won’t speak the fuck up when they see it in action. They give their friends, co-workers, and acquaintances a pass when it comes to rape jokes, to sexist jokes, for conversations which objectify women or degrade them. Men don’t want to put the onus of rape prevention on their shoulders. They don’t want to be ostracized from their homosocial group for speaking up. They don’t want to be the only one speaking up, but if no one ever starts, no one else can gain the courage to chime in, can they? It’s past godsdamn time for men to step the fuck up when it comes to rape prevention, and that does not mean asking (or wondering) why women don’t use the latest whatthefuckever. I’ll point this out again, because it gets missed too much: preventing myself from getting rape is a good thing, for me. It’s not going to be so great for the next woman, though, is it? That’s why the onus of rape prevention belongs on those who might rape, those who don’t think clearly about things, those who might be ignorant. That’s why the onus of rape prevention belongs on the shoulders of those who stand shoulder to shoulder with the fellas who might not think rape is so bad. Kate Harding provided this list of T-shirt slogans which are available. Have a look. Nirmkuta has a great read on victim blaming, everyone should read it.
I’m not interested in hearing about how women should wear this nail polish, carry those straws, be sure to dress modestly, never go anywhere alone, oh, just lock yourself in a closet until you are safely owned by a man, then never go out without him. I’ve heard this shit for over 50 bloody years. It’s not helpful.
I just met with a teacher who was horrified about needing to send a grade 8 student to The Office today for fondling another student. These stories show that we need to send full professors and doctors to the office too.
On the reverse side, Australian police apparently found a video of a gang rape and *arrested the people in the video* for it — even though it hadn’t been reported. They even found the victim and got her help. It’s like they were doing their job or something. Other police forces should learn from the example.
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/oct/15/five-arrested-over-alleged-gang-after-video-found-on-gopro-seized-by-police
In the last 2 years I have discovered that every woman I know has been sexually assualted. That’s right. Not “mildly” either. Every. Single. One.
And I don’t live under a rock.
There are a lot of assholes out there who are really busy.
Recently, the woman I love was assaulted by a manipulator who was very practiced. He knew all the tricks – got her to shower off afterward to clean off the DNA, talked her into doing some awkward selfies with him that might look arguably consensual, recorded her chatting about a “one night stand”… the whole bit. She blames herself, of course, but it’s at least 90%/10% especially when you consider that the guy has clearly done this over and over again. Over. And. Over.
She convinced herself she made some mistakes (with perfect 20/20 hindsight, she did) (but ONLY with perfect hindsight) and … he gets away with it. Some other woman is going to have to deal with him. Some other guy is going to be collateral damage, as I am. Remember this, when you are being an apoloigist for rapists. Remember, even if you’re a selfish shit who only thinks about yourself: you’re going to be collateral damage. If you’re just s selfish shit who’s worried about getting some, the rapey assholes are blocking the goal-posts.
The rest of us… Are holding the goal-posts while they cry. The rest of us are telling them they matter. The rest of us are telling them that we still love them. The rest of us are – what? Incandescent with rage. Brave heroes, you do not wish to accept the blame.
Apologies for the poor typing and language in previous post. If I had paused to edit it properly I could not have said it.
Marcus @ 20:
I am so sorry. So very sorry that you both have had this horrible experience happen. I know words are inadequate, and I sure as hell wish I had more to offer you, and was close enough to follow through with an offer to simply be there. To listen, to absorb some of the tears.
I can, at least, listen, and I’m here if you need to talk, rant, scream, whatever. If not here, my email address is available at http://caine.zenfolio.com/ – please, feel free to use it. You’re both traumatized, and are going to have a fucktonne to deal with for quite a while. So, anything I can do, anything at all, Marcus.
Thank you Caine; I have known you on this blog for a long time and I respect you. But I will reply in the open in kind. Thank you for opening your heart to me, but:
We need to wear the damage that the abusers cause, openly. We need to acknowledge it and wail our pain and rage. Then go back to defending and nurturing those who we should defend and nurture; we’re just collateral damage.
I’m not trying to reach you, Caine. I know you. I know you know.
It’s the glib motherfuckers. Or, more precisely, the about-to-be glib motherfuckers. The people who call for ‘skepticism; – the people who hold out the fig-leaf. The ones who give the benefit of the doubt on the wrong side. Those are the ones I am talking to. The ones who don’t step forward even after it’s too late. The ones who dismiss, diminish, forgive. You’re the ones who I would burn to a cinder with the edges of my anger. There are thousands who say “Cosby isn’t convicted” and – yes – set their imagined experiences against the reality my lover has experienced: seeing trust turn to dross, self-respect to self-doubt, opportunity to second-guessing, love to question-marks and “is it OK?” fuck those glib motherfuckers – they are the camouflage behind which the predators smirk.
I am not afraid to strike the predators, or them, I’m experienced in wounds enough to know that that doesn’t help, either. I’m not letting them get away with it I acknowledge that extinguishing them won’t help, either. I even know (at some level) that “Dear Muslima” it could be worse – it could, oh, so, be worse – what, he could have cut her throat afterward!? The rubble was not bombed?
Fuck that, though!!! If we hunch over and nurse our sole wounds we do not get the strength to say THIS IS BULLSHIT. There are many people of good will who are rent, torn, doing the right thing clutching the wounds they did not inflict. Too many of us make excuses for the excuses of those that caused those wounds. It is the very shit of bulls.
Marcus @20:
My utmost sympathies to you both. I’m so sorry.
Another way of putting this is;
If you were watching your sweetheart describing being drugraped by Bill Cosby would it piss you off?
Well IT SHOULD PISS YOU OFF ANYWAY
iit should piss you off if it’s your friend who’s the graduate student being molested by the nobel laureate, or if it’s just some random stranger.
I think a lot of of apologists are basically rubbing their foreheads and going, “whew! Not my ox!” (in the leviticus sense)
Peace, I’m outta here. gonna let Bacchus take me.
Caine @18
Thank you for saying this.
Apparently, he is a Pastor at his local church, and that he repeatedly said “Praise God” to the awaiting media pack when he made his court appearance on the news last night. I think if you can avoid geoblocks, check out October 15’s ABC Local TV night time news for Sydney for the footage of him saying this.
Marcus Ranum
I’m very sorry to hear. My heart goes out to your partner and to you.
Fuck those bastards and fuck all those who go “there is no rape culture”
And we’re very good at not calling it what it is. Some guy grabs our ass in passing by and we don’t call it assault. And we don’t go to the police, because they’ll laugh us out of the building because our own friends remarked on the length of our skirts when we tell them. And we internalise it and “brush it off” (no, actually we don’t).
Marcus @ 23:
Can’t argue with a single word, and I wouldn’t want to, either. Right fucking on.
25:
Pretty much, yeah. That’s one of the reasons that blame is persistently laid on the victim, ’cause if it was some guy’s ox, first thing he wants to know is “what did you do that caused this, huh?”
It’s extremely tempting to go full “dear muslima” on oneself when something happens. I didn’t go to the police when a man grabbed my breast in the subway because I thought that it wasn’t very important, not a “real” sexual assault, the police had more important crimes to deal with, etc. Besides which, what did I want them to do? It wasn’t like I had a chance in hell of identifying the guy again even if they did manage to find him. What would the point have been? (As no man who ever lost his wallet and didn’t even know whether it had been stolen much less by whom said to the police.)