Have you had a male HCP refuse to do a check on you?

[rabbitwoman]

Reading with interest the thread on whether you have always had a female do a smear test - I don't want to hijack with my point, because I think it's a really interesting point in light of recent ideology....

But, I have had two male doctors refuse to examine me when I asked about pains in my breasts and tell me I need to see a female doctor. Has this happened to anyone else?

By the way I have always had female nurses do smears and always seen female doctors about any issue; not necessarily on purpose. It's always hideous and would be hideous whether it was male or female, I reckon, and my opinion always was that they are medical professionals, used to seeing all sorts of bodies with all sorts of lumps, bumps, rashes and infections -

I made a routine appointment to ask about breast pain, just took the first doctor offered to me. When I told him what the issue was he said I would need to see a female doctor about that.....

It was obviously on my notes because at my next appointment, about something completely different with another male doctor, he checked first that I shouldn't be seeing a female instead.

So in light of all this gender politics, and ladies who say they don't care if they see a male HCP, I just don't understand.....??!!

I have never heard a doctor refuse this before, had you stated previously that you wish to see a female hcp only or was the doctor saying this is not their field and they have a female doctor who speciliases in breast pain. Did he actually refuse to examine you or suggest you see someone else. If it was at the gp you could speak to the practice manager for an explanation.

Honestly? He seemed very uncomfortable and giggled, then said I would need to see a female doctor. I was quite mortified, actually, I thought, have I made an awful faux pas? Have I put someone in an embarrassing situation, did I come across as inappropriate, or worse!

I did actually mention it to the practice nurse, who said he should not have done that and all doctors should be fine doing an initial examination, etc, but to be honest, there are plenty of female doctors so I always just see one of them.....

I think it's odd that they refused. By all means they can ask for a female chaperone. I had that with a male GP at a postnatal check up when he needed to examine my episiotomy scar. If they are sending you away to book another appointment, I think they are wrong and taking a risk. What if you didn't come back? They would have failed to care for you

No, I went last year with a prolapsing haemorrhoid (yay, thanks birth). The male doctor asked me if I wanted an exam (yes please, something is falling out of my arse 🤨), and when I said yes, he just went to get a female nurse to observe. Not a problem.

I can understand that as a woman you might feel more comfortable with a woman examining you, but I think as a doctor of either sex, you should be treating people of both sexes as long as you have their consent and appropriate chaperone

Yes, had an gynae issue and was told I should have booked a female doctor as the next step was an internal examination.

Never had that, and I've had a lot of male and female docs and nurses around my fanny.

The male gyn did insist on a female chaperone being fetched - other men happened to have female nurses or other staff or my partner in the room already.

Perhaps he's had a complaint in the past? Although, he could get a nurse to observe . That's strange!!

I went to have a lump checked and the male doctor asked for a female chaperone to come in. He certainly didn’t refuse to examine me!

My male community midwife refused to examine me after I had given birth. I had a lot of stitches and was in agony, I waited 3 days for the health visitor who took one look and took some of the stitches out - instant relief! I wish I'd complained at the time as it appears it was common for him to do this.

Yes, this has happened at the GPs surgery that I used to attend. I had attended with a suspected breast lump and he said he doesn't do examinations.

I think this could have been overcome with a chaperone, but they were notorious for wanting to cut costs and didn't want to employ a nurse.

I had a boil right at the top of my inner thigh which had burst. The Male dr asked if I was happy with him looking at it and offered to ask the female nurse to come in but said she might not be free immediately. I told him I wasn't concerned if he wasn't. My then DP was with me anyway. Although I guess we could have colluded in a lie about GP being inappropriate or something.

I always see my female gp now but that's because of MH issues, and continuity of care is important for that.

My male GP gave me a breast examination recently, I thought I felt something and went straight to the GP. He asked if I would like to see a female doctor, or if I would like a chaperone? I said I was fine and allowed him to examine me. I felt he was very professional. Afterwards though I did wonder if in theory he was putting himself at risk by there not being a chaperone? He referred me to a breast clinic where I was examined by a second male doctor, a breast surgeon, a female nurse was already in the room and chaperoned me (I guess it was standard in the clinic because she was there the whole time).
I think I’d feel a bit more ‘uncomfortable’ about a smear, I might have said yes to the chaperone in this instance, but ultimately a male HCP is a HCP.

I remember when I was 16 I was in hospital with viral meningitis. A young male doctor (medical student maybe) came in and said he needed to examine me, listen to my chest etc and I said I’m not wearing a bra (under my pyjamas) and he got extremely embarrassed and said he would get someone else to examine me. I was really embarrassed and thought I’d done something really wrong to not be wearing a bra. Looking back now i guess he wanted to spare me any embarrassment but it was really uncomfortable. I actually always wear a bra under pyjamas now.

I’ve had many many internal exams done by male doctors though, as well as a colposcopy and a transvaginal scan. As long as they’re professional it’s fine.

Did he really giggle??!! That's what's weird about this tbh!

I have mostly has female docs until recently. I love my current (male) doc and I'd have no problem if he needed to do an intimate examination but I haven't needed one (thank god!)

My male community midwife refused to examine me after I had given birth.

There’s a person in the wrong job! How on earth can a midwife refuse to do an examination.

I think it's odd he refused. Usually they just ask if you are happy for them to do it and then get a chaperone dont they.

Mind you that didnt seen to bother the male dr who examined me Internally without a chaperone or asking if I minded

Perhaps they’ve been stung by women making spurious complaints in the past.

How strange.
What is the point of male gps then if they pick and choose parts of the job?

A male doctor examined my breasts but he asked me if I wanted a female chaperone in the room. He was very respectful.
Ive never had a doctor refuse to examine me. Maybe your doctor is worried about someone making an allegation against him. If so the approach of having someone else in the room makes sense but not refusing to examine you

I work in healthcare and my personal opinion is if you’re that uncomfortable with some of your essential duties that you refuse to do them you’re in the wrong job. It’s ridiculously unprofessional, pick another job if it affects you that much. Same goes for pharmacists refusing to issue morning after pills and doctors and nurses etc refusing to treat patients who want or have had abortions when it’s their role to do so. Refusing can make patients feel judged and uncomfortable when they’re often at their most vulnerable.

I think it's odd, unless the GP is required to have supervision for medical examinations of women or isn't allowed to examine women.

Mine always offer a female chaperone. One of the practice nurses usually.

I went to the gp about a breast issue, suspected infection, and just saw the on call doctor. He happened to be a young male, likely to be newly qualified. He asked if I wanted a chaperone, I declined, as I'd not long given birth with a circus of hcp in the room so didn't feel the need. Poor guy looked highly embarrassed but did carry out the examination. I think it's odd to refuse to examine a patient, that's your job!

Yes. I had a male dr refuse to check me. Really upset and annoyed me, because I didn’t actually want to see a male, but I was worried and desperate.

REALLY annoys me as well because people can be horrid when you say you want to see a female for a female problem.

He giggled?! How unproffessional.