Pelvic exams on unconscious women

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me that anyone goes to a male ob gyn. Women are so naive.

By choice - I agree. Sometimes it isn’t a choice - if it’s urgent, you may not be able to wait on your female MD and there may only be males around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me that anyone goes to a male ob gyn. Women are so naive.

Agree.
Anyone helping me birth my baby,
needs to have actually birthed a baby!
Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me that anyone goes to a male ob gyn. Women are so naive.

Agree.
Anyone helping me birth my baby,
needs to have actually birthed a baby!
Sorry.

No need to be sorry. I recommend Certified nurse midwives for uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries. You will be well cared for. Avoid males.

[Anonymous]

Action suggested, from the author Paul Hsieh (https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulhsieh/#c4a65c95fb89):

1) Before undergoing anesthesia for any kind of surgery, specifically state that you don’t agree to a pelvic exam while unconscious. State this preference to more than one person (for instance to both the doctors and the nursing staff). Make sure your preference is recorded in writing in your informed consent form.

2) Contact the hospital ombudsman before the surgery. Ask them if they are aware of this practice occurring in this hospital, and specifically record your preference with their office before your surgery. The ombudsman’s job is to be the patient advocate relating to any concerns or complaints about their care. Take advantage of them as a resource.

3) Urge your state legislators to support legislation outlawing this practice. The practice of performing pelvic exams on unconscious patients without consent is currently illegal in four states (Hawaii, California, Illinois, and Virginia). I would imagine that many lawmakers in the other 46 states would gladly sponsor a bill protecting patients’ rights in this manner.

[Anonymous]

I wonder if these doctors do prostate exams on unconscious men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It amazes me that anyone goes to a male ob gyn. Women are so naive.

Agree.
Anyone helping me birth my baby,
needs to have actually birthed a baby!
Sorry.

Ok women MDs - I agree. But do you actually question every attending and resident that comes in in the hours of childbirth to ask her about her parental status and make sure she’s the bio mother - not adoptive or via surrogacy?

[Anonymous]

The doctor should at least Not have a penis. Experience with child birth is a big plus.

[Anonymous]

DH questioned a doctor who was supposed to be examining his prostate. The doctor got defensive about his unusual technique and after that DH never went to that guy again. He felt violated and there was no one else in the room. So it happens to men too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The doctor should at least Not have a penis. Experience with child birth is a big plus.

Excellent filter criteria.

I prefer OBs who have had pregnancies, but they start practicing before starting their own families. So it goes. Women in their 40s-60s are the absolute BEST for your clinicall and ethically highest quality healthcare. Women in 70s+ are mostly retired by then, but also excellent, if you can get. Unlike almost all other fields, and until the robot health care staff is deployed, age/experience is an advantage.

[Anonymous]

Glad I live in Virginia! Can't believe only 4 states have those laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OR nurse here. Be thankful for the nurses in the room. Those who are not yet desensitized will save you from so much rough shod treatment. This practice of pelvic exams is a tradition from teaching. Some attendings still do it, some do not. I don't want to create undue fear, but once you are asleep, the surgical team forgets you are human due dignity and kindness. Seriously, your nurses will protect from a lot, however they also become sort of traumatized and awful behavior becomes normalized.

I'm thankful for women nurses. What can you do when a very creepy male nurse shows up?

You can certainly request a female nurse, however there are now many males in nursing. Especially ER, OR, and outpatient surgery centers. You may not be able to have this request honored, depending on staffing. Don't ever worry about making this request either, because it is common. That said, as a nurse in a critical care unit, I work with several male nurses who truly set the standard for ethical, excellent care. It's person to person, and there are some very bad female nurses. In my experience, the doctors are the ones to be more careful about.

That is a terrible thing to say. I JUST had a creepy experience with an attending. I was having day surgery, the attending came in and told me everything off, only gown on. I was having elbow surgery so I thought it was a bit odd but got undressed. My MALE OR nurse came in to tie the back of my gown and asked why I didn't have underwear on. I said the doctor told me to take it off. He helped me put it back on (elbow surgery after all -- off is easier than on) and said you don't need to have everything off, he was sorry he wasn't there when I first arrived and that he would be with me the entire time. His presence made me feel a lot better, not creeped out at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OR nurse here. Be thankful for the nurses in the room. Those who are not yet desensitized will save you from so much rough shod treatment. This practice of pelvic exams is a tradition from teaching. Some attendings still do it, some do not. I don't want to create undue fear, but once you are asleep, the surgical team forgets you are human due dignity and kindness. Seriously, your nurses will protect from a lot, however they also become sort of traumatized and awful behavior becomes normalized.

I'm thankful for women nurses. What can you do when a very creepy male nurse shows up?

You can certainly request a female nurse, however there are now many males in nursing. Especially ER, OR, and outpatient surgery centers. You may not be able to have this request honored, depending on staffing. Don't ever worry about making this request either, because it is common. That said, as a nurse in a critical care unit, I work with several male nurses who truly set the standard for ethical, excellent care. It's person to person, and there are some very bad female nurses. In my experience, the doctors are the ones to be more careful about.

That is a terrible thing to say. I JUST had a creepy experience with an attending. I was having day surgery, the attending came in and told me everything off, only gown on. I was having elbow surgery so I thought it was a bit odd but got undressed. My MALE OR nurse came in to tie the back of my gown and asked why I didn't have underwear on. I said the doctor told me to take it off. He helped me put it back on (elbow surgery after all -- off is easier than on) and said you don't need to have everything off, he was sorry he wasn't there when I first arrived and that he would be with me the entire time. His presence made me feel a lot better, not creeped out at all.

As a nurse manager, I will say he it is his JOB to be present with you, esp when attending is present. He could get in big trouble for that.

Yes, nurses are there to protect you. Insist on their presence, and rest assured they are for the most part a very reliable and important part of your care.

Also, people, you are in charge of your care, you can express your preferences and what you will and won't accept. Healthcare may feel like you have no choice, but you do. Speak up, even if you think it's impolite.

RN

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these doctors do prostate exams on unconscious men.

yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OR nurse here. Be thankful for the nurses in the room. Those who are not yet desensitized will save you from so much rough shod treatment. This practice of pelvic exams is a tradition from teaching. Some attendings still do it, some do not. I don't want to create undue fear, but once you are asleep, the surgical team forgets you are human due dignity and kindness. Seriously, your nurses will protect from a lot, however they also become sort of traumatized and awful behavior becomes normalized.

I'm thankful for women nurses. What can you do when a very creepy male nurse shows up?

You can certainly request a female nurse, however there are now many males in nursing. Especially ER, OR, and outpatient surgery centers. You may not be able to have this request honored, depending on staffing. Don't ever worry about making this request either, because it is common. That said, as a nurse in a critical care unit, I work with several male nurses who truly set the standard for ethical, excellent care. It's person to person, and there are some very bad female nurses. In my experience, the doctors are the ones to be more careful about.

That is a terrible thing to say. I JUST had a creepy experience with an attending. I was having day surgery, the attending came in and told me everything off, only gown on. I was having elbow surgery so I thought it was a bit odd but got undressed. My MALE OR nurse came in to tie the back of my gown and asked why I didn't have underwear on. I said the doctor told me to take it off. He helped me put it back on (elbow surgery after all -- off is easier than on) and said you don't need to have everything off, he was sorry he wasn't there when I first arrived and that he would be with me the entire time. His presence made me feel a lot better, not creeped out at all.

As a nurse manager, I will say he it is his JOB to be present with you, esp when attending is present. He could get in big trouble for that.

Yes, nurses are there to protect you. Insist on their presence, and rest assured they are for the most part a very reliable and important part of your care.

Also, people, you are in charge of your care, you can express your preferences and what you will and won't accept. Healthcare may feel like you have no choice, but you do. Speak up, even if you think it's impolite.

RN

Can’t you also just not listen? If an MD says everything off but you’re there for them t look at your toe, can’t you leave u/w on? If they really need it off, they’ll ask when they see it on — 99% of the time they won’t though bc they’ve likely decided you won’t comply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
This is EXACTLY why you NEVER
leave your loved one ALONE in a hospital!

You NEVER know WHAT they're doing to them.
Hospitals are NOT safe places.

Just saying the truth.
Buyer BEWARE.

Cool beans. Which hospitals allow a loved one to be in the O.R.?