The Other Side of the Speculum: A Male Doctor's Point of View
TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE CULTURE
Reading this, along with the stories shared in the comments turned my stomach. I had to stop.
Please excuse me while I throw up.
This is why I always request a female doctor.
I couldn’t get past the first paragraph.
As a future physician, this makes me so disgusted.
I barfed a little in my mouth.
While it’s important to be aware of it, it’s so sad and angering that this does happen to male physicians. It was tough to read all of this. I’m glad to be part of a medical education which focuses (or at least tries to) on patient dignity. I know in some curriculums they make their medical students (both male and female) put their legs up on the patient table like they’re about to get examined. It’s to let them know how exposing this position is to their patients. It might seem weird to do this exercise at first, but as future health care providers we sometimes forget that what we do can be extremely private - such is sometimes the product of the microcosm of med ed. My OB/GYN rotation we were never ever ever allowed to do these types of exams (bimanual, breast, pap) without the presence of a female (nurse or otherwise). It was standard practice. And it should be standard practice.
I should add - all my ob attendings were male. They all had the right head on their shoulders.
Patients - know your rights. Know when you should get certain exams. We’re human, yes, but we’re professionals too. Business before pleasure, keep work and your disgusting hijinks separate, you sicko. This is one of many reasons patients are not as trusting of physicians any more. Ugh.
