‘I was sexually harassed by a patient’

I am a dental nurse and I have been sexually harassed by a patient in front of my dentist. I am rather quiet by nature and, whilst I am polite and friendly to patients, I prefer not to engage in long conversations. I recall being warned, years ago, by other members of staff regarding this specific patient I was about to meet for the very first time, who apparently had a tendency to make ‘funny comments’. This made me anxious, as I had no clue how to respond if he chose to do so.

He started by flirting, which made me very uncomfortable, but the comments became worse as we saw him for more appointments. One of the first comments he made was: ‘We should have sex before it’s too late.’ I was shocked – I could not utter a word and I remember wanting the ground to open up and swallow me. I was extremely embarrassed, as this was said whilst my dentist was there. At another appointment, the same patient suggested that ‘we should have sex on this dental chair during your lunch break’. I was fuming and felt sick to my stomach, but my dentist did not say a word in my defence. I remember wondering why wasn’t I supported during these humiliating incidents and I wished he had told this horrible man to leave the practice and never come back. I verbally reported these incidents to the manager but, sadly, no action was taken.