With the rise of the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements in the last few years, media attention has been drawn to the abusive behaviours that have become embedded in our culture. Under the Equality Act 2010, it is against the law in the UK to discriminate against anyone because of nine ‘protected characteristics’. These are race, age, gender reassignment, being married or in a civil partnership, being pregnant or on maternity leave, disability, religion or beliefs, and sex and sexual orientation.

A survey among doctors and medical students highlighted that 76% had experienced racism in the work place at least once in the previous two years.¹ Similarly, 91% of woman doctors in the UK have experienced sexism at work,² and a survey among European surgeons revealed that 20% had considered quitting their job due to discrimination.³ While surgery is a specialty where discrimination and harassment concerns have been well documented, these issues have not been explored widely among anaesthetists.