Tips For
Female Patients To Prevent Sexual Abuse In Medical Settings
In society, girls and women are
always given tips on how to protect themselves from sexual abuse,
but you rarely hear about how to prevent sexual abuse in medical
settings. Sexual abuse in medical settings is more common than
many people realize. A woman is at a far greater risk
of becoming a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a male doctor
or male nurse, especially a gynecologist, than she is from men
in the general population.
Our web site lists numerous news
sources documenting doctors and other medical professionals who
have been accused of sexually abusing patients. This is only a
short list of actual abuse cases. 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 women would be too embarrassed
or ashamed to report sexual abuse by a medical professional or
brush it aside feeling the medical care they received was worth
the abuse. It is harder for a woman to report her doctor if he
helped her through a difficult time such as miscarriage, infertility,
or cancer and/or he gave her a special discount for procedures.
It is disconcerting to know that
many doctors that have committed sexual misconduct have continued
to practice.
1)
We advise all women 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 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. It would also be prudent to have a female doctor perform
your colonoscopy if you must undergo the procedure. Some male
gastroenterologists have taken advantage of women while they were
under anesthesia for a colonoscopy. One female patient found semen
from the doctor on her face after she woke up from a colonoscopy
in a Texas hospital. Check
out a disciplinary action that was taken against another gastroenterologist
that has been accused of sexually assaulting some female patients
by Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing.
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) Don’t let your guard down if you have cancer or possible
cancer.
If your gynecologist refers you
to a gynecologic oncologist, make sure that the referral is to
a female gynecologic oncologist. A gynecologic
oncologist often conducts intimate procedures on women. A renowned
gynecologic oncologist, Dr.
James Heaps abused many patients. Check out the article, Referral
to Gynecologic Oncologist.
3) 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.
4) 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).
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 wear a thin shirt and not a sweatshirt
so your heart can be listened to through your shirt.
6) 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.
7) 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.
8) 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.
9) 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.
10) 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.
11) 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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