Amsterdam tribunal reprimands surgeon for calling assistant “donkey”
The Regional Disciplinary Tribunal for Healthcare in Amsterdam ruled that a plastic surgeon engaged in inappropriate conduct after insulting his surgical assistant by calling her a “donkey,” RTL reported.
The incident occurred on 8 July 2025, when the surgeon and assistant were working together during a liposuction procedure. The operation was reportedly at risk of running over time, and the assistant suggested calling colleagues to inform them. The surgeon said he did not think this was necessary, but the assistant made the call regardless.
The surgeon then began expressing anger toward the assistant. According to NU.nl, an anesthesia staff member in the operating room recorded the interaction, with the video reportedly showing the surgeon shouting at the assistant.
The surgeon reportedly demanded that she leave the operating room: “I asked ten times. You’re not a donkey, are you?” The footage also shows him angrily pointing toward the doorway.
The anesthesia staff member who witnessed the incident stated under oath that he was very shocked by the verbal abuse. He said the incident had a major impact on his work; he was less alert and less friendly toward patients afterward.
The assistant filed a complaint with the Regional Disciplinary Tribunal for Healthcare in Amsterdam, which ruled in her favor and issued a reprimand that will be published so other healthcare providers can learn from the decision.
