LONDON -- British doctors are using a hilarious hashtag to hit back against an article published by The Sunday Times that has been branded "sexist" on social media.
The column, written by Dominic Lawson, discusses "the feminisation of medicine" and suggests the NHS is being adversely affected by an increasing number of female doctors.
Dominic thinks we're the problem. Really? Try saying that while I'm cardioverting you. #likealadydoc pic.twitter.com/SIeGHqLkKw— Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) January 17, 2016
Unsurprisingly, the article didn't go down well with some people.
Middle of serious crisis in medical staffing & recruitment. What should we do? Put out sexist articles blaming it on women #likealadydoc— johannmalawana (@johannmalawana) January 17, 2016
Roshana Mehdian was one of the many doctors who was frustrated by the article.
"Women doctors are surgeons, physicians, leaders, college presidents, innovators and often mothers, sisters, daughters," she told BuzzFeed. "To me, and to most people in this century, that is a cause for frustration and nothing else."
Mehdian expressed her feelings on Twitter Sunday evening.
I can scrub up both the DISHES and for an OPERATION #likealadydoc @thetimes pic.twitter.com/CB8FAFnLgY— Roshana Mehdian (@RoshanaMN) January 17, 2016
Mehdian's tweet, and the #likealadydoc hashtag, have since snowballed. Throughout Monday, male and female doctors made fun of Lawson's article on Twitter.
#likealadydoc I got all confused & got 3 degrees+2 royal college memberships. I only popped out for a new frock. pic.twitter.com/6yx8C5LOEx— gaps inbetween (@gapsinbetween) January 18, 2016
I'm a doctor, training to be one of those wicked "part-time" female GPs. Even more shocking, my husband is a nurse #likealadydoc— Lucy Pocock (@drpoco) January 18, 2016
Thanks to fellow ladydoc, Frances Helen Parsons, for this. #likealadydoc pic.twitter.com/wH9m0T5i23— Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) January 18, 2016
Became confused mid Ortho op and tried to give myself a manicure. Then I cried. Blasted ovaries! #likealadydoc pic.twitter.com/zGsifnadJc— Charline Roslee (@Hell_on_heels) January 18, 2016
Amazing how we manage to care for patients without our wombs and hormones getting in the way #likealadydoc pic.twitter.com/A2VJzEpPnb— Dr. Seema Yasmin (@DoctorYasmin) January 18, 2016
Even in dire haemodynamic instability, I only ever insert a pink cannula #likealadydoc pic.twitter.com/yidZEaw575— Heather Ryan (@DrHFRyan) January 17, 2016
My sparkly work pen because if I have to sign prescriptions with a nasty boys one I cry all day long #likealadydoc pic.twitter.com/fqnNVf1n4f— Dr Zoe Norris (@dr_zo) January 17, 2016
Back home after an awfully tough medical on call - broke a nail :( (and a few hearts) #likealadydoc pic.twitter.com/AOkk1YFb5h— Dr Ben White (@ProtocoIDriven) January 17, 2016
Damn - I wish the patients didn't make me cry - it ruins my makeup #likealadydoc #thesundaytimes pic.twitter.com/XjMNG0ISVf— Dr Francesca Silman (@DrSilman) January 17, 2016
Dominic, does my tinsel look straight in this? No? That'll be the 30mins CPR I just did. #likealadydoc @thetimes pic.twitter.com/lZdkFBbwBy— Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) January 17, 2016
Mehdian has since tweeted again to encourage people to wear pink on Wednesday and share photos of themselves in order to support female doctors.
On Wednesday, wear pink for #likealadydoc and post ur pictures to support all the incredible lady docs out there! #pinkwednesday— Roshana Mehdian (@RoshanaMN) January 17, 2016