Thread by @MeenaZareh

To the victim who reported the predator, I believe you. I stand with you. I applaud you. Victims who bring lawsuits against institutions & predators have been forced to do so by the inaction &/or retaliatory actions of these said institutions. It is often the last resort. A 🧵1/9

The hope is that the lawsuit will stop the retaliation, but it doesn’t. Instead institutions double down and continue to protect & hide the perpetrators from any real consequences. They intimidate, retaliate, and focus their wrath on the victim who dared to report the assault 2/9

They present the victim as the bad guy, the nuisance that won’t stop demanding things (aka the basic right to work in a safe environment free of sexual assault, harassment, discrimination, etc). 3/9

Reporting sexual assault is life changing. It affects you and the people around you in ways that are unimaginable. It’s been over 5 years since I was sexually assaulted in a call room. Over 4 years since I filed a lawsuit against USC, LAC+USC, and the rapist. 4/9

I mourn the young woman I was before this, but I celebrate the strong fighter I have become as a result of this. 5/9

While it has been 5 years since everything changed, it has also been 10 months since the State of California stripped the rapist of his medical license. 23 months since the ACGME decided to strip the USC cardiology fellowship of its accreditation. 6/9

It is a long and hard fight but it is a fight that must be fought. You will prevail and inspire others to come forward. 7/9

Victims risk everything to report sexual assault/ harassment. If you are a person in a position of power, use that power to help the victim get away from that institution/toxic environment. 8/9

Open/knock down a door so that they can continue to pursue their education, their career and their dreams. It’s one thing to applaud survivors, it’s another thing to give them a pathway out. End of 🧵.
#OHSU #BelieveSurvivors #MedTwitter