Why Do People Abuse Power?

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One of the many reasons I left Anesthesia residency training 1 year short of sitting my board exams was because my supervisor was beyond abusive. After I was sexually assaulted by one of the Anesthesia Residents at a work related event I was ordered by the program director (My supervisor) to "Stop talking about the incident" as it was causing him ebarassment, he also continued to host the same event at the same place for 3 consecutive years after my "claimed" assault and I continued to receive invitations to them. Since I have left I have filed a report to the human rights commission about my case and the reactions I had to deal with from educated department members who thought I was a problem that they wished would go away. I have always expressed to my supervisor what an outrage I thought he was, even when I was still in residency. What would you tolerate from your boss/supervisor/mentor? Would you complain or simply take the abuse and suck it up as they say? What would you do to him/her if you were in charge?