Sexist and homophobic insults, insults, but also “abuses of power”, such as the suspension of holidays. It is a dossier full of accusations collected by the students of the School of Specialization in Plastic Surgery at the University of Salerno. The protagonist, recorded in the audio released now by The Express, is Carmine Alfano, director of the school, head physician, and candidate for mayor of Torre Annunziata, in the Neapolitan area. Supported by civic lists, by Fratelli di Italia, by Forza Italia and by Italia Viva, he has already reached the ballot. And he also asked his students for “a hand in organizing” the electoral campaign. The case is reminiscent of that of the head doctor of the Specialization School of Orthopedics and Traumatology at the University of Salerno, who forced the residents to do push-ups in the ward as punishment. «We residents», those in plastic surgery vent today, «are almost daily harassed and threatened with offensive names and vulgar exclamations. We are forced to suffer in silence and listen to sexist and homophobic jokes, creating a toxic and humiliating work environment.” And they then talk about “abuses of power”: “The professor threatens us in two ways: by suspending the holidays to which we are entitled or by preventing us from accessing the operating room.” So the request to the School: «In addition to undermining our dignity and our psychological well-being, this also hinders our professional training and also highlights a serious abuse of power by the director. This intolerable situation requires immediate intervention.”
The audio broadcast by L’Espresso
But what did the specialists record? Some phrases with homophobic or sexist content are heard in the audio, just as university students report. «That one is rich, that other one is rich, they are all rich even on television and they all want important positions», we hear, «All of them in there, in the crematorium in Cava di Tirreni and we solved the problem.” And again: «Here we are missing a category, if I may say so, after this has also entered, we are missing the whores, then “let us all care”». Then turning to a white coat he exclaims: “If you’re rich, urology is fine.” Then the personal insults, in cascade, during the daily morning meeting: “You are a bunch of idiots.” And then again: “I put you in a position to self-destruct.” “Everyone, get out of here.” «I’ll kick you out of school. I’ll kick their asses, at the right time.” “I’ll crush you all.” «99% of you will do nothing in life except do it shampooista». In the other audio, the head doctor is heard threatening the residents that they will never set foot in the operating room again. And this is one of the greatest fears of young doctors, who fear not making the most of their years of training. Contacted by The Expressthe rector of the University of Salerno Vincenzo Loia responded: «To date, no report has been received, but I have started the necessary internal checks, given the seriousness of the facts reported».
