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AIBU?

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Original poster

Reasonable professional behaviour-Internal examination

56 replies

Sunnywithchanceofshowers · 07/01/2025 20:40

Today i had a gynae appointment with an internal examination. The trainee decided to answer her bleep with her fingers still inside me. I’m not keen to ask my friends this so I’m asking all of you!
I am quite surprised she thought this was ok and trying to decide whether to give some feedback to the department. If i do, i would prefer to do it in a constructive way. The rest of the appointment wasn’t good either as she clearly hadn’t read my notes, but i suppose i did get the information i needed in the end.

OP posts:
Katy232425 · 07/01/2025 21:14

Sunnywithchanceofshowers · 07/01/2025 21:11

I did consider that approach if I write in- what is wrong with staffing if she needs to answer a pager instantaneously? She will be a qualified doctor on a rotation, most likely doing a rotation before becoming a GP so training in Obs and gynae.

Ah I see. I had assumed by trainee you meant medical student. Yeah, I can see if she’s a registrar she’s probably going to need to respond to emergency calls, but I still don’t think taking a few moments to stop properly is unreasonable!

5431go · 07/01/2025 21:11

A trainee Gynecology student ? What world are you living in ?
That is a fully qualified Dr that may have 10 years + post graduate experience. And yes, a gyn registrar may receive pages multiple times a day for emergency situations.

OP, did they answer a call or just silence the pager ?

Original poster
Sunnywithchanceofshowers · 07/01/2025 21:11

I did consider that approach if I write in- what is wrong with staffing if she needs to answer a pager instantaneously? She will be a qualified doctor on a rotation, most likely doing a rotation before becoming a GP so training in Obs and gynae.

OP posts:
Katy232425 · 07/01/2025 21:06

I’d assume that mid-procedure (any procedure really but especially that kind) was entirely inappropriate to be doing anything besides the procedure. I’d think it was very rude to answer a pager just during a medical conversation much less an exam. And if it really was so essential to pause she should be respectful enough to apologise, “exit”, take her gloves off and make sure you’re re-covered before answering phones. Apart from anything else the hygiene aspect would concern me - I don’t want hands/gloves simultaneously on my body and her phone/pager!

I doubt anyone’s life depended on a trainee gynaecology student answering right that very second though, and if it did then the hospital or department is at fault for ridiculous staffing.

Edit - was she definitely a medical student/trainee? I’m surprised they were only chaperoned by a nurse and didn’t have a doctor supervising.

Original poster
Sunnywithchanceofshowers · 07/01/2025 21:02

Thanks for your reply. Chaperoned by a nurse. She didn’t seem to understand why I looked worried- I was there for follow up after investigations into an abnormal ultrasound. Her attitude seemed to improve after she went out and probably read my notes.

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 07/01/2025 20:48

Was the trainee being shadowed or alone?

That in itself is a red flag for me, let alone answering a bleep while carrying out an invasive investigation. Definitely feedback, this was not OK.