Abuse of Medical Students

To the Editor.— I found the two recent articles on medical student abuse^1,2 to be of particular concern. With my thirdyear rotations beginning in July, I am approaching the point at which, according to the findings, the putative mistreatment tends to burgeon. Although I am by no means surprised by the data, I believe the articles are important in their provision of concrete information regarding an issue that, in the past, seemed to receive mostly verbal attention. This information should serve to prepare students who have yet to commence their clinical years for an environment that, in addition to offering crucial and exciting medical experience, may seem hostile toward them.

First, we students should remind ourselves that such abusive behavior is not exclusive to medical training, or to the medical profession itself; in every profession there will be ugly confrontations. Although they are inexcusable, physical, sexual, and verbal mistreatments