Tips For
Male Patients To Prevent Sexual Abuse In Medical Settings
Female patients are much more
likely than male patients to be sexually abused in medical settings,
but that does not mean that male patients are not at risk. Men
are less likely than women to report sexual abuse.
Sexual abuse in medical settings is more common than many
people realize.
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 20’s getting
their first required physical for employment, followed by (3)
men getting their 3rd or 4th Digital Rectal Exam (DRE).
Important information about
modesty concerns: Many doctors use female nurses or assistants
as chaperones during exams that are unnecessary and cause embarrassment
for male patients. In some cases, a female assistant stays around
to observe or take notes while the male patient is undressed.
Speak up and ask for a private exam with the doctor without the
female staff member.
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 men 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.
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 trusted
person (preferably your wife) 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 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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