Time to end pelvic exams done without consent

[ccharles000]

Imagine that you are undergoing a fairly routine surgery – say, removal of uterine fibroids or hysterectomy. During or right after the procedure, while you are still under anesthesia, a group of medical students parades into the operating room and they perform gynecological exams (unrelated to the surgery) without your knowledge.

Do you consider this okay, or an outrageous violation of your rights?

Regardless of your feelings, you should be aware that this is standard procedure in many Canadian teaching hospitals.

Medical students routinely practice doing internal pelvic examinations while surgery patients are unconscious, and without getting specific consent, at least in Canada.

Guidelines in the United States and Britain say specific consent is required but, by contrast, Canadian guidelines state that pelvic examination by trainees is “implicit.”

The practice – one of those dirty little secrets of medicine – has been exposed in a thoughtful, professional manner by a young doctor.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/time-to-end-pelvic-exams-done-without-consent/article1447337/

[Kitty Herder]

1. That's horrible.

Thanks for posting this ccharles.

[tabasco]

2. Damn.

That's fucked up.

[Odin2005]

3. WHAAAAT!?! That's fucked up!

:grr:

[Raineyb]

4. And yet it's safe to assume they don't do prostate exams on unconscious patients. n/t

That is beyond fucked up. I mean really that an invasive medical procedure is done on women without consent is considered routine. I know damn well that men wouldn't put up with a prostate exam without consent.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

8. I'd be happy for them to knock me out before mine.

Actually I've got a female doc with really skinny fingers so it's not too bad. It's the former offensive lineman doctor with a national championship ring you've got to watch out for.

[Oregone]

5. Thats the big secret of universal healthcare

It costs less. Doctors are in it for the perks, not the pay.

[HeresyLives]

6. Doubtful. They ask every other time.

Some people say yes, some people say no.

[bmbmd]

7. I call B.S.

I learned how to do pelvic exams at the gyn clinic during my third year clerkship-never heard of this practice. Canada, maybe-but simple assault in the US.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. Simple assault, nah. Actually a pretty strong case for rape.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[seabeyond]

11. fuckin prudes not wanting group of strangers sticking hand up vagina while unconscious

unaware and uninformed.

oh wait. you are male. you dont have a group of people sticking their hand up your vagina while you are unconscious. well. thanks for telling me how i am suppose to feel.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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[seabeyond]

12. stuttering at audacity of poster. nt

[spooky3]

13. then why in the world wouldn't they get informed consent from the patient

in writing, before the anesthesia is administered?

[Fleshdancer]

15. WTF?

I don't know what's more insulting, the idea that "English prude culture" is why women wouldn't want to be violated, or the idea that French culture would be ok with it. Or perhaps it's the bullshit notion that, for some unknown reason, students would need to have super ninja vagina skills to miraculously save an unconscious woman from her "naughty bits" and the only way to truly practice and hone those skills is to fondle an unconscious woman without her consent.

But hey, I hope you get the added details you need to truly figure out if this practice is unethical or not.

[1776Forever]

16. Time to end ALL exams by any "Dr" if you have NOT given permission!

I just paid for 2 Heart Dr's that came in my hospital room and asked me three questions and walked out - I had no idea they would charge me separate from my bill I paid to the hospital! I did not ask for them and I never went to them after I got out of the hospital. I think this stuff of paying for exams that a person does not ask for is like a thief in the night!