Life for a medical student can be tough enough at times, but can be considerably worse if you add being bullied at work to their plate.
Jessica Rheault, a Laval University med student, has had to take a step back from it all because the working environment was too unhealthy.
"For the moment, I just decided to stop med school, just take a step back and I work in an administrative job," she told CTV Montreal.
Rheault said residents are being forced or bullied into working unreasonable hours by overworked doctors.
"When you just spent 14 hours in hospital and you have to study and you have exams (it’s too much)," she said. "We have a culture of silence, and a culture of 'I want to be the best, I want to perfect, I don't want to show weakness.'"
Jessica is not alone.
Last year the Federation of Quebec Medical Residents surveyed medical students from four Quebec universities and found 40 per cent felt they had been intimidated or bullied work.
"An example is it being strongly suggested not to take vacation because it will be a decrease of our clinical exposure," said Dr. Aris Hadjinicolaou, vice-president of the Federation of Quebec Medical Residents.
“It's also the person who is evaluating you and is the person who's ultimately responsible for saying whether or not you pass the rotation, and whose evaluation will give the weight that will allow you to get a fellowship, a sub-specialty position and eventually an employment opportunity,” said Hadjinicolaou.
The College of Physicians would not comment on the claims.