WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for February, 2001: Re: a couple questions

Re: a couple questions

From: William McIntosh, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 21 Feb 2001 09:01:11 -0600 (CST)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: William McIntosh, MD: "Re: one more question for Dr. Hill"
Previous message: Ivy: "Re: Copolscopy"
In reply to: anonymous@obgyn.net: "a couple questions"

At Tue, 20 Feb 2001, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote: >
>Hello, I am 32 year old, not sexually active, woman who has been seeing
>the same physician for annual exams for several years. He never had a
>chaperone with him, but I was very comfortable with him and didn't feel
>like a needed one (in fact, I prefer no extra on-lookers). Recently, I
>had to switch doctors and I was very uncomfortable with the new one. He
>didn't have a chaperone, either, but I felt like I wanted one and the
>exam was VERY painful (it felt like he was really rough). My questions
>are: Do most physicians get mad if the patient requests a chaperone? I
>don't want to hurt his feelings. I just think it would have been easier
>to have the exam with a new guy if I had a little bit of moral support.
>Also, he had me wear the gown with the opening in the front. Because I
>have a fairly large chest, the gown wouldn't close all the way. This
>also made me more uncomfortable (almost humiliated). Is it okay to tell
>him I prefer to have it open in the back from now on? Does it make a
>difference? Needless to say, this experience wasn't a good one at all,
>these exams are embarrassing enough as it is!

The chaperone is not present for the protection of the patient, she is present for the protection of the doctor, and any doctor who examines women who are not fully clothed is an idiot if he OR SHE does it without a chaperone. Even female providers need and should use a chaperone. My wife does. If he is offended if you ask for a nurse to be present, run, do not walk, out the door to another doctor.

I always have the gown with the opening to the back, largely because it bothers me that the patients have to spend more time and effort holding it together, than they do talking with and listening to me. If it goes to the back, everyone is much more comfortable. I don't really know what proportion of Gyns do it that way, but all the ones that I know do.

-- William D. McIntosh, MD, FACOG

This is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for consultation and examination by a licensed medical professional.

Next message: William McIntosh, MD: "Re: one more question for Dr. Hill"
Previous message: Ivy: "Re: Copolscopy"
In reply to: anonymous@obgyn.net: "a couple questions"

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

use when must restrict search to only the women's health forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: