Tips For Male Teenagers
To Prevent Sexual Misconduct By Doctors
Girls are much more likely than
boys to be sexually abused in medical settings, but that does not
mean that boys are not at risk of being sexually abused too. Boys
are less likely than girls to report sexual abuse. Sexual abuse
in medical settings is more common than many people realize. Some
examples of sexual abuse cases include: a pediatrician, Dr.
Levine, a learning disabilities expert who was accused of sexually
abusing 5 boys and a pediatrician and sports medicine specialist,
Dr.
Van De Loo who sexually abused some boys during sports physicals.
Important information about
patient modesty concerns: Most adolescent boys are embarrassed
to have genital exams. For most boys, a male physician is less embarrassing
than a woman. There is an increase in female doctors and nurse practitioners
doing genital exams on adolescent boys. Another problem is that
male doctors often have female nurses as chaperones for male genital
exams and that makes the embarrassment much worse.
One health outcomes researcher
did a survey with a group of men and 10% of them reported inappropriate
touching and comments during a physical exam at some point in
their lives. In this survey, the most common groups to be exploited
were (1) young naïve teenagers, followed by (2) young men
in their 20s getting their first required physical for employment,
followed by (3) men getting their 3rd or 4th Digital Rectal Exam
(DRE).
Research of medical board cases
and newspaper accounts shows occurrences of sexual abuse by doctors
and nurses. Additionally, there are many unreported cases because
patients are afraid to speak up about the abuse they experienced.
Some feel it would be pointless to report sexual abuse in medical
settings because they know that it is very easy for doctors and
nurses to get away with wrongdoing. Most men would be too embarrassed
or ashamed to report sexual abuse by a medical professional. Others
may not know how to file a complaint. Consequently, some doctors
who have committed sexual misconduct have continued to practice.
. One
female ENT doctor abused a number of male patients under anesthesia
by performing non-consensual genital exams on them. There
is absolutely no reason for an ENT doctor to do genital exams
on patients anyway.
1) We
advise boys to find male doctors, especially urologists for intimate
procedures.
Look for a male doctor who is sensitive to patient
modesty and protecting your privacy and dignity as much as possible.
Consider interviewing a doctor to see where he stands on patient
modesty and dignity before allowing him to perform intimate examinations
and procedures on you.
2) Refuse
Unnecessary Intimate Exams.
Keep in mind that genital exams are often unnecessary
unless you have urological symptoms or a genital injury. You have
the right to refuse genital or rectal exams at any time. There
is no need for genital
exams for sports physicals even though they are typically
done. You really only need a genital / hernia exam if you have
symptoms.
Do not allow yourself to be pressured into having a genital or
rectal exam at any doctor appointments. Some male patients have
gone to the doctor for other health concerns and were coerced
into having unnecessary examinations. For instance, if you have
a sore throat, don't allow a doctor to lecture you about how important
it is to have a genital, prostate, or rectal exam 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
you came (ex: your throat is sore).
3)
Take
along a parent (preferably your father) or another trusted person
for doctor appointments that require genital or rectal exams if
possible - not only for protection from potential sexual abuse,
but to act as another set of eyes and ears to help listen and
remember everything you need to know regarding the reason you
are actually there.
Having a nurse or an assistant present in the
room with the doctor doesn't guarantee that nothing inappropriate
will happen to you. Remember that the nurse or assistant is present
to "protect" the doctor and will often side with the
doctor. If the doctor refuses to allow the person of your choice
to be present, walk away. It is also recommended to record interactions
with the doctor and other medical staff.
4) If
you are uncomfortable or frightened with something that is happening
during an exam or procedure, speak up and stop the exam or procedure.
5) 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 think in advance about what parts of your body the
doctor should examine and dress accordingly and ask specifically
what the procedure and test will consist of. For instance if you
have a knee problem that you want the doctor to check out, you
should wear loose shorts instead of pants so you would not have
to take any of your clothes off in the doctor's office. Another
example is that leg ultrasounds will be conducted from the foot
to the groin. So wear loose-fitting shorts that you can pull up
at the leg.
6) If you are going to be put under
anesthesia, you should insist that you have a family member or
a friend present for your procedure to protect you.
Patients who are under anesthesia are very vulnerable
because they have no control over what happens. Many patients
are unnecessarily stripped naked for surgeries. One male patient
had his gown and underwear removed after he was put under anesthesia
for hand surgery. The only reason he found out was because he
woke up in middle of the surgery. We encourage all surgery patients
to opt for local or regional anesthesia without sedation whenever
possible. Check out Why
You Should Have a Personal Advocate For Surgery?
7) Insist that no urinary catheter
be inserted unless it is absolutely necessary.
Too unnecessary
urinary catheterizations
are done. If you must be catheterized, you have the right to ask
for a male nurse to do it.
8) Insist on a male ultrasound technician
for scrotal or leg ultrasound if you are required to have one.
9) If you must be hospitalized,
it would be best if you could have someone not employed by the
hospital present with you, at least most of the time, especially
when you are asleep or drowsy.
If you are married, it would be
best that your wife assist you with bathing. Many men are more
comfortable with their wives bathing them than a nurse. Go somewhere
else if the hospital won't accommodate your requirements for a
support person.
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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