Sexual Misconduct By Doctors
   
   

Tips For Female Teenagers To Prevent Sexual Misconduct By Doctors

Most adolescent girls don't feel comfortable letting their male pediatricians see certain parts of their body that are covered by a two-piece bathing suit. Many girls don't even like to discuss personal matters such as periods and breast growth with their male doctors. There is usually no need for teenage girls to have pap smears or pelvic exams if they are virgins who have never engaged in any kind of sexual activity. See more information on pap smears for virgins.

Many teenage girls have been traumatized by having intimate examinations by male doctors. Many teenage girls are uncomfortable with strange men including doctors touching certain parts of their bodies. Some teenage girls have made a commitment to save sex until marriage and they also feel that their future husband should be the only man in the world who can see and touch certain parts of their body.

1) We advise all women and girls to avoid male doctors, especially male gynecologists for childbirth and any procedures that involve intimate body parts covered by a two-piece bathing suit.

Women and girls are in a very vulnerable position when male doctors perform intimate procedures on them. Having a nurse or an assistant present in the room with the doctor doesn't guarantee that nothing inappropriate would happen. Remember that the nurse or assistant is present to "protect" the doctor and will often side with the doctor over the patient. There have been cases where female patients felt the male doctor went too far, but the nurse or assistant believed he was simply performing a thorough examination. There was one case where the nurse was caught off guard from events occurring so quickly and she was unable to report what happened until the female patient left. It is certainly not worth the risk to let a male doctor do conduct intimate procedures on you. Dr. Robert Hadden, an OB/GYN who sexually abused some women during childbirth even molested one woman while her husband held her hand.

If there are no good female gynecologists in your area, ask your mom or someone else to drive you to the closest city with a female gynecologist no matter how far it is away.

Do not listen to recommendations from family members or friends about male doctors, especially gynecologists, for procedures that involve uncovering body parts covered by a two-piece bathing suit. One woman reports that she regrets going to a male gynecologist a family member recommended because she was abused by him.

2) Even with female doctors, you have to take some precautions.

Some female doctors are very coercive. You need to speak up about your values and wishes. For example, one female OB/GYN ignored a lady's wishes in writing that she didn't want any medical students present for her C-Section. It is wise to have someone who can help you advocate for what you want. You should ask the female OB/GYN to tell you in details about what exactly she will be doing and if there is anything you don't like, you should speak up. Find out who all will be present for the procedures.

3) Refuse Unnecessary Intimate Exams.

Do not allow yourself to be pressured into having a pelvic exam, pap smear, or breast exam at any appointment. Some female patients have gone to the doctor for other health concerns and were coerced into having unnecessary examinations. For instance if you go in for a sore throat, don't spend time listening to a lecture by the doctor about how important it is to have a pap smear and that you need one today. If something like that happens, tell the doctor you are not interested and you only want to talk about the reason for the visit (ex: your throat is sore).

4) Don't undress or put on a medical gown when it is unnecessary and/or you feel uncomfortable.

Most procedures and tests such as blood tests, blood pressure tests, stethoscope heart exam, eye, ear, nose, throat examinations, leg ultrasounds, and many other procedures can be done fully clothed. You should think in advance about what parts of your body the doctor should examine and dress accordingly. For instance if you have a knee problem that you want the doctor to check out, you should wear shorts instead of pants. You should wear a thin shirt and not a sweatshirt so your heart can be listened to through your shirt.

5) If you will be sedated or under anesthesia, you should insist that you have a family member or a friend present for your procedure to protect you.

Patients who are sedated or under anesthesia are very vulnerable because they have no control over what happens. Many patients are unnecessarily stripped naked for surgeries. One female patient had her gown and underwear removed after she was put under anesthesia for hand surgery. The only reason she found out was because she woke up in middle of the surgery. Check out Why You Should Have a Personal Advocate For Surgery? We encourage all surgery patients to opt for local or regional anesthesia without sedation whenever possible.

6) Never assume that a well-respected doctor or a doctor you have seen for many years will never do anything inappropriate.

A well-respected doctor conducted unnecessary breast exams on high school girls whose mothers were not present for sports physicals.



7) Make a firm decision that you will not let any male medical professionals touch any parts of your body that are covered by a two-piece bathing suit.

Insist that no male nurse give you a bath or perform intimate procedures on you such as urinary catheterizations. Many unnecessary urinary catheterizations are done. If you must be catheterized, ask that a female nurse insert your catheter.

Insist on a female technician for EKG, transvaginal ultrasound (if needed), etc.


8) If you must be hospitalized, it would be best if you could have someone not employed by the hospital be present with you at least most of the time, especially when you are asleep or drowsy.

Go somewhere else if the hospital is not willing to accommodate your requirement for a support person to be with you.


9) Steer clear of any doctors who will not accommodate your wishes for maximum bodily privacy for procedures.

You should be able to wear 100% cotton underwear for most surgeries that do not involve the genitals, such as knee surgery. COVR Medical garments can be worn for procedures involving the groin and hip.



10) Be clear with communicating your intimate boundaries.


Medical staff will often not tell you in advance that the procedure or test will involve intimate access. For example, leg ultrasounds will often go from the foot to the groin and involve contact with the wand very close to the genital area.
When undergoing a leg ultrasound, medical staff may tell you to remove your underwear. You can refuse to do so because this procedure can be conducted with underwear and loose-fitting shorts on. You may have to pull them up at the leg.

 

 

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