Mexico City Children's Hospital Residents Strike Over Harassment Claims

Medical residents at the Federico Gómez Children's Hospital in Mexico City have initiated a "paro activo" of non-critical activities, protesting what they describe as a "grave and sustained institutional situation." They allege widespread sexual harassment, labor bullying, intimidation, abuse of authority, and detrimental effects on their training environment by officials linked to the director general, Adrián Chávez López, and medical director, Víctor Olivar López.

The residents are demanding the immediate dismissal of Chávez López and Olivar López. They argue that the continued presence of these directors compromises trust, hinders safety guarantees for complainants, and perpetuates conditions incompatible with a dignified and safe academic and healthcare setting. The residents stated in a May 22nd letter that their decision stems from a situation that has "profoundly deteriorated the academic, labor, and assistance environment" within their training institution.

To ensure patient care, the residents confirmed that emergency, intensive care, hospitalization, and on-call services remain operational. They have filed formal complaints with the hospital's internal control body and the prosecutor's office for sexual offenses. However, they claim "no effective impartial measures" have been taken to guarantee their safety.

The protesting residents are calling for a dialogue table involving representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Coordinating Commission of National Institutes of Health and High Specialty Hospitals, the UNAM Faculty of Medicine, human rights organizations, and a resident representative. They also seek the creation of a resident society within the hospital, composed solely of residents, to address their concerns without politicization, focusing instead on "dignified, safe conditions compatible with ethical, academic, and legal principles."