Victims hit out at university over handling of harassment cases

摘要

Officials affiliated to the largest research university in Canada have been accused of mishandling complaints of sexual harassment. Two female students, who undertook research at teaching hospitals affiliated to the University of Toronto, say that administrators conducted flawed investigations, which have damaged their scientific careers. Officials at the University Health Network (UHN), which runs research at the hospitals, admit that harassment took place but say appropriate steps were taken to tackle it — a claim that may soon be examined by human-rights officials. The most serious allegations have been made by Gwen Schwartz, who was doing doctoral research on spinal injuries at Toronto Western Hospital until last year. Schwartz says that she began a sexual relationship with her supervisor, Michael Fehlings, in December 2000. When she attempted to end this relationship the following month, Schwartz alleges that Fehlings began sexually harassing her and that the harassment continued until she complained to UHN officials in March 2003.