A senior surgeon who attracted several complaints over comments that women in her field should protect their careers by “complying with requests” for sex is standing by the remark.

Vascular surgeon Dr Gabrielle McMullin launched her book Pathways to Gender Equality – The Role of Merit and Quotas on Friday night, and drew criticism for comments made at the book launch.

“What I tell my trainees is that, if you are approached for sex, probably the safest thing to do in terms of your career is to comply with the request,” she said after the launch.

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Dr McMullin says many people have thanked her for speaking out and some have come forward with more appalling stories of their experiences.

She said her critics had misunderstood her stance.

Dr Gabrielle McMullin says that women do not get supported if they make a complaint. Photo: Shutterstock

“Of course I don’t condone any form of sexual harassment and the advice that I gave to potential surgical trainees was irony, but unfortunately that is the truth at the moment, that women do not get supported if they make a complaint,” she told the ABC.

“And that’s where the problem is, so what I’m suggesting is that we need a solution for that problem not to condone that behaviour.”

Dr McMullin said she stood by the comments she made on Friday.

“It’s not dealt with properly, women still feel that their careers are compromised if they complain, just like rape victims are victimised if they complain,” she said.

One victim, who did not want to be identified for fear of losing her job, told the ABC she experienced years of sexual harassment from a senior surgeon.

The victim said if she revealed her identify, she would not be considered a safe person to work with.

“If you complain … you’ll be exposed, you’ll be hung up to dry, you won’t be able to work,” she said.

Processes in place to deal with harassment: Women in Surgery

Kate Drummond, chair of the Women in Surgery committee at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, disagreed with this suggestion.

“I think we have robust processes, not only through the college for the trainees but also through the workplace,” she told the ABC’s The World Today program.

“I mean, these are people who work in hospitals and there are clear workplace processes to deal with these kinds of problems.

“And so I think there’s parallel processes that we would encourage people to use and also to take the support of people like those of us in the Women in Surgery committee and we’re very happy to strongly support these people.”

Ms Drummond said there had been less than one complaint per year to the Women in Surgery committee regarding sexual harassment.

But Ms Drummond was once a victim of sexual harassment herself.

“I think once in 1992, I was subject to that, for a brief period … it was not particularly serious but it was definitely there,” she said.

“But it does happen, no-one is denying that it happens. It’s just – the advice that to not speak out is a career-ending move is I think incorrect.”

Ms Drummond made a complaint about the harassment she suffered.

“I think I was upheld … I went on to complete my training. I guess I was (concerned) at the time, perhaps a little bit frightened, but I still went ahead and did it,” she said.

– ABC