Appropriate Behavior in Medicine (Professionalism Reporting)

Reporting Unprofessional Behavior, Mistreatment

CMSRU is dedicated to maintaining a compassionate and supportive environment for learning and clinical care. This requires a mechanism to deliver constructive feedback, and we have created two channels of reporting—one for concerns about professional behavior and one for mistreatment.

We encourage you to report using the appropriate channel. In Academic year 2024-2025 we received many misclassified reports. The Office of Student Affairs triages these concerns and will reclassify those submitted under the wrong heading.    

What is the difference between unprofessional behavior and mistreatment? Mistreatment is always unprofessional, but unprofessional behavior can take forms that do not involve mistreatment.

Examples of mistreatment include deliberately humiliating or embarrassing someone in public, threatening or causing physical harm, sexual harassment or assault, discrimination or making offensive comments based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, or other personal characteristics, and more.  

Unprofessional behavior that is not necessarily mistreatment includes unexcused absence or lateness, failing to prepare, disregarding assignments, dressing inappropriately, lying, violating patient confidentiality, failing to show compassion or respect, and more.

In general—but not always—mistreatment occurs down a power differential, whereas unprofessional behavior can occur at any level of a hierarchy.

CMSRU encourages everyone to report concerns about unprofessional behavior and mistreatment, and all reports are investigated promptly. We also encourage reporting for exemplary behavior. Reports can be filed anonymously or with the reporter’s signature. If included, the names of reporters are kept confidential, and investigations are often aided by the ability to contact reporters for clarification. 

We have created an email for professionalism reporting, like mistreatment (professionalism@coopermed.rowan.edu).