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 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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