This is not a typo!  Leaders gain esteem and social standing through association with their institution. It “gold plates” their reputation. This is one of the reasons that they are loath to damage their institution’s reputation by acknowledging the presence of child sexual abuse. A failure to act on their personal and professional duty of care to children and youth is an act of self-interest and moral cowardice!  

Time and time again in my professional life I saw senior managers in the health sector willing to compromise their ethics for personal and professional interests. They would ‘go along to get along” in their careers, causing great harm to others.

Key takeaways–    

1. Institutional leaders must be selected for their ethics!
2. Failure to protect a child is a criminal offence and those who orchestrate cover-ups should be prosecuted.