An emergency physician shared her photos to push back against the idea that a doctor who dresses in swimwear when they are not working is somehow considered "unprofessional".
Candice Myrhe, an emergency physician based in Hawaii, appeared in a series of photos circulating online, where she is seen treating a patient on an operating table while wearing a bikini.
According to Myrhe, speaking to Insider, it was a re-enactment of a 2013 incident where she was surfing and witnessed a boat hitting a woman, which resulted in life-threatening injuries.
Fortunately, Myrhe managed to help stabilise her condition until she could be taken to a hospital.
This was dramatised in a 2014 series called Dr Bikini: Untold stories of the ER.
Screen shot from Dabbleco Instagram.
Study claimed that doctors sharing photos of themselves in swimwear may be seen as inappropriate
However, in July 2020, people took notice a study by a nearly all-male research team that was published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery.
It claimed that women doctors and medical professionals who post social media photos of themselves in bikinis and swimwear may be perceived as "provocative," "unprofessional," and "inappropriate."
This prompted a backlash on social media, according to Scientific American, with medical professionals sharing photos of themselves in swimwear and using the hashtag #MedBikini.
Myrhe called the study "sexist" and "disgraceful", and said:
"Who cares if your board-certified doctor has a personal life? Shouldn't we want medical professionals to be happy in their personal lives so that they are successful in their professional lives?"
On July 26, she posted a photo on her personal Instagram account of the re-enactment of the scene, which went viral.
In her caption, she added:
"I am an Emergency Medicine Physician standing in solidarity with female vascular surgeons today. NEWSFLASH: FEMALE DOCTORS CAN WEAR WHATEVER THEY WANT.
Female doctors, nurses, NPs/PAs, all healthcare professionals - we can wear a bikini, a dress, or we can wear scrubs. This does not change how good we are at being a healthcare provider. We can wear WHATEVER we want on our free time, and still save your life."
She followed that up with another photo of herself wearing a bikini and treating a patient for a severe head wound.
Commenters have been appreciative, calling her an "inspiration" and a "badass".
Myrhe said she would like to write a memoir of her experiences as a surf doctor and the obstacles she's faced in her life and career.
Top image from drcandysurfvival Instagram page.