To be surprised to have a male health visitor?

[PeriodFeatures]

Just that really! I wondered what other people think?

[Mrsdavidcaruso]

chrome read my other post about my Aunt is the 70s I for one am very pleased that in the 21st century women are able to take more control over their bodies and their medical environment, can you imagine the storm it would cause on here if today someone posted that their GP had told them that even though they had been on the pill for a while that now they have Mrs before their name and a ring on their finger they are now 2nd class citizens who needs a mans permission for the pill as it would deprive him of his rights to have a child if his wife took contraception without his knowledge, I think MN would crash.

There is no difference no difference at all in a woman being told she HAS to comply with something she hates or disagrees with or that takes away her rights and someone made to feel guilty or difficult if she objects, because someones feelings are going to be hurt or as a medical poster says, it costs more and takes up more time or it does not comply with someones idea of equality.

Its not discrimination, its not sexist, its a woman's right and on the 21st century I celebrate that we have the right to chose, the right to object and the right to complain.

[sparklekitty]

I'd be surprised in the same way I'd be surprised at having a male MW.

That would be it though, a brief 'oh he's a man,ok' then on with whatever he was there to do.

[HicDraconis]

What would everyone have done back when women weren't allowed to be doctors?

I appreciate that some people have been deeply traumatised by others (of both genders!) but rather than avoiding half the population we should be making sure that help is available for people to work through past experiences. Proper, qualified, free-on-the-NHS, help.

I do think the firefighter analogy is relevant. It's not a question of competence - both genders are equally competent in medicine, tho I think orthopaedic surgery is easier for males, it seems to involve more brute strength.

[HandMini]

Hic

What would everyone have done back when women weren't allowed to be doctors? well, thankfully we now have a choice so I don't think any of us can really know. Refused medical help? Probably not.

I appreciate that some people have been deeply traumatised by others (of both genders!) but rather than avoiding half the population we should be making sure that help is available for people to work through past experiences. Proper, qualified, free-on-the-NHS, help. yes, this would be absolutely great. Until that time comes, and I expect on NHS budget it'll be a while, could we just take these simple steps of medical practitioner choice to allow hundreds of abused women less traumatic access to childcare?

I appreciate that may feel defensive as a medic, but surely you can appreciate how crucial this is to some women accessing healthcare at all?

[HandMini]

Sorry "childcare" should have read "healthcare" (researching nurseries at the same time!).

[Ilovemyself]

Mrsdavidcaruso and opalite. Do you think it is acceptable for someone to refuse to be seen by someone JUST because they are a man? There will always be people who have real issues, but if you don't like it simply because they are male than it is not acceptable.

And I am sure when you book you HV visit they tell you who is coming. If you have a serious issue you can discuss it and stop someone " just turning up"

Yes it is going back to the 70's by refusing a healthcare professional based on sex alone. I though sexual discrimination had dealt with in the work place.

And coconut ring. I feel very sorry for you that you base the entire male medical profession on the case of male colleagues you had to go to court about. Perhaps we should not trust any female healthcare workers because of the atrocious things Beverly Allitt did.

[Binkyridesagain]

So women have to give reasons of why they do not want a male HCP to treat them? Does the HCP then have to judge if that reason is then acceptable to them? What if it isn't? What if that HCP judges that DV, Rape or Child abuse is not a good enough reason to refuse treatment by a male HCP? Do they then force the woman to go through with the examination?

Why should I have to tell of my experiences everytime to ensure that I can be treated by someone who I feel safe and comfortable with?

[MidniteScribbler]

Do you think it is acceptable for someone to refuse to be seen by someone JUST because they are a man? There will always be people who have real issues, but if you don't like it simply because they are male than it is not acceptable

Yes it is. This is not about a bus driver or someone who sells you your morning newspaper. EVERYONE has the right to say who can and can't touch their bodies and they should never have to justify themselves for their choices. It terrifies me that a vulnerable woman would refuse access to medical care, or may not being willing to talk openly with her medical professionals just because some people think that women with personal reasons for choosing who can and can't touch her should 'just get over it'.

[pinkr]

I had a male student midwife during my recent delivery...he was fantastic and I loved how calm and supportive he was, it also helped dh as they talked about fishing and cooking etc although only after I'd had the epidural! He examined me vaginally after the midwife to see if he could tell how dilated etc and I was asked if it was ok and I didn't mind in the least.
Strangely another girl in my group had him too and she hated him which shows its all about personality not gender.
oh...and I didn't expect a male which is why when I was introduced I remember thinking God that's one ugly woman...in my defence he had long dreadlocks and I was off my tits on pethidine.

[CommanderShepard]

I was examined internally when being investigated for pre-eclampsia and the (female) SHO had to go and find someone to chaperone her. I wasn't bothered but it appeared to be policy.

[Grennie]

Of course you should have a choice about been seen by a male or female HV. In an emergency it is different. You need to accept who you are given. But a HV vsiiting is not an emergency.

At my GP surgery there are things that I will see any GP for, things I will see only a female GP for, and things that I will see only the very sympathetic male GP for. For example, I hate cervical smears, and get very tense beforehand. If I had to see a male, I simply would never have one.

And I am shocked at the poster who says they make patients strip to the waist for heart and lung stethescope examinations. I have a health problem which means I am regularly examined. I have never been asked to strip to the waist, even when being examined by heart consultants. Totally unnecessary. No it can't be done through clothes, but there are more dignified ways of doing these examinations.

[Ilovemyself]

Binky. I understand your view , but why should anyone be barred from doing their job on grounds of sex. If you do want to see a female healthcare professional why shouldn't you have to give a reason - if it is for a reason like rape of course it is acceptable.

But your point of what if the hcp thinks the reason isn't good enough just makes me think you want to argue. Of course there would be specific rules, and of a hcp thought that rape or abuse wasn't a good enough reason they should be invest aged immeadiately.

I have had to see hcp about some very personal issues but I didn't base who I saw on the grounds of sex - I let the person that I could see at the time deal with it. I may have preferred a male ( well actually it didn't bother me either way - but for the sake of example) but a woman was more than capable of doing the job so I let her.

Bust protection needs to be in place for vulnerable people, but a decision based purely on the grounds of sex with no outside factors is discrimination.

[Grennie]

Also the proportion of women who have been raped is very high. Getting any intimate medical examination can then be very difficult. Getting one from a man can be worse.

I think all women and men should have the right to see a GP or nurse of the same sex if they choose.

[Grennie]

myself - Nobody should ever have to disclose they were raped. I have never come across health professionals who don't accept that patients have the right to request female or males GPs or nurses.

[Ilovemyself]

Midnitescribbler. I am not just talking women. This thread is about a male hcp visiting a woman but it works both ways.

[Writerwannabe83]

I think that nobody should be made to feel uncomfortable in personal situations and if a woman wants to see a female professional then she is well within her right.

I recently had my Mirena Coil removed and had to go to a specialist centre due to complications and although I had a female nurse in the room with me and my husband was allowed in too, I still felt very uncomfortable that it was a male doctor performing the removal. I recently had to visit a GP about bleeding in pregnancy and even though I knew I wouldn't need an examination and it was just for a chat, I still said I wanted to see a female GP. I'm a nurse and hat never come across unprofessional behaviour from male professionals but I would still always prefer to see a female over a male when dealing with 'personal matters'

[Grennie]

And many men want to see a male GP about intimate physical stuff. I know my FIL is one. And that is fine. I think he should have that right.

[Ilovemyself]

Grennie. Why don't we just have a segregated healthcare system then? Men only see men and women only see women. And in the case of healthcare that is sex specific only allow people of that sex to do that job?

[HandMini]

I am shocked at the poster who says they make patients strip to the waist for heart and lung stethescope examinations. Me too. Other medics - is this standard?

[Writerwannabe83]

I had to have an ECG done a few months ago and the technician was male. I felt very uncomfortable lying there with my breasts out and couldn't wait for it to be over! I felt the same when I had an ECHO done of my heart, it was a male doing it and feeling his hands on my body and resting against my breasts just felt so wrong. I wish at the time I had asked to have it done by someone else but it isn't always easy to do that when you are put on the spot.

[Binkyridesagain]

It was a male police surgeon that screwed my head up. I should not have to disclose that everytime a male HCP wants to examine me.

A simple 'please can I have a female doctor/nurse' is far easier as it prevents the meltdown.

I have the right to say who is allowed to touch my body.

[Grennie]

Mini - It isn't standard. I have had stethescope examinations in hospital and from many GPs. Never been asked to strip to the waist. Male Dr's who have done it tend to be pretty sensitive to privacy, and if they need to listen under my breast, ask me to lift my breast up myself.

[MidniteScribbler]

Your comments really are terrifying Ilovemyself. There is never a time someone should have to justify why they want a person treating them at all. If the patient is prepared to wait to see a different HCP, then what is the problem? And it can be because of gender, because they look like their ex, because they have cold hands, or simply because they just don't click with that person.

Who treat's me is MY choice. Not the government's choice over who they think I should see, not the choice of a hcp who gets offended if someone doesn't want them to treat them, not the choice of posters on an internet forum who think that deciding who can and can't treat you is discrimination. Ridiculous. My body, my choice. Ironically, if we bring up abortion on here, people will turn themselves in knots saying that it is the woman's choice only and she has every right to decide what happens to her body. I guess that just doesn't apply to who gets to do very personal medical examinations.

Patients (male or female) refusing treatment or not being prepared to open up to their doctor about things because they cannot choose who sees them is dangerous. Patients need to be able to feel comfortable and confident in who is treating them, and be willing to discuss all important issues. You cannot dictate who a patient chooses to have treat them.

[Grennie]

myself - Because for the majority of health procedures, I like most people, don't care if it is a woman or a man.

I did hate having my breasts felt by a male Dr though at the breast clinic, when I had a suspected lump. Sitting stripped to the waist and having a man I had never met before feeling my breasts, felt horrible. But I had no choice. There was no female Dr.

[Ilovemyself]

I think people should just chill out and be relaxed about their bodies. And they are professionals who are looking at you as a patient - not a sex object.

Yes there are people who have had horrific experiences in life, but being uncomfortable with a member of the opposite sex all sounds a bit Victorian to me m