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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have asked the Doctor to stop?

38 replies

abigboydidit · 20/04/2015 12:26

I am currently at an outpatient appt at my local hospital. Getting fitted for a vaginal pessary Shock
This is taking a lot of re-fitting and I am basically being taken between patients to go up sizes until they get one that fits. While we were waiting for the nurse to get the next size, the Dr started dictating a GP letter about the person who was in before me. He got as far as patient name, address, date of birth and presenting symptoms when I pulled back the curtain and said "excuse me, do you realise I am here?" (I was right next to him but with a curtain between us). He looked very confused and said yes and went to continue. I said I felt very uncomfortable listening to someone's personal clinical history and that I would be very upset to think my problems would be discussed in a similar way in front of other patients. He apologised and stopped but explained it was routine practice to save time.

Was I unreasonable?

OP posts:
sparkysparkysparky · 20/04/2015 12:30

No. Contact local PALS to complain. This is serious breach of trust. Docs and Nurses can think that you are on their planet and must accept their rules.

Marshy · 20/04/2015 12:30

No you weren't. He was about to breach confidentiality and should have know better. What if it had been your next door neighbour he was talking about?!

With any luck your intervention will have made him reconsider whether this is the right thing to be doing. You could pursue it through PALS if you wanted to. It sounds like something which needs reviewing and out an end to.

MissDuke · 20/04/2015 12:31

Well done for speaking up :-) You are absolutely right here!!!

Marshy · 20/04/2015 12:31

*put not out

EuphemiaCoxton · 20/04/2015 12:31

Yanbu.
He broke patient confidentiality.

Original poster
abigboydidit · 20/04/2015 12:31

I have to go back in and get examined by him again and it all now feels very tense Hmm He had a Junior Doc with him too and just seemed awful role modelling.

OP posts:
Dieu · 20/04/2015 12:32

YANBU. Any nutter could have been listening in!

Dieu · 20/04/2015 12:33

And it's so bloody arrogant that he continued even after you'd made your presence felt.

Original poster
abigboydidit · 20/04/2015 12:35

My head was right at his thigh when I pulled the curtain back. Was trying to not sound too cross but looked ridiculous with my bits barely covered by a paper towel Shock

OP posts:
chocolatelife · 20/04/2015 12:35

pretty thoughtless, at least you told him.

CitizenOfTheWorld · 20/04/2015 12:37

He shouldn't have stopped. He should have asked the nurse to take you out the room and continue his work. You can wait til the end of the clinic then. Do you realise how much clinical time is spent dictating letters?

Original poster
abigboydidit · 20/04/2015 12:38

Thanks everyone. Glad it want just me being over sensitive.

OP posts:
Original poster
abigboydidit · 20/04/2015 12:38

Yes absolutely. I agree that he needs to dictate - it was the in front of me bit I was uneasy about.

OP posts:
CitizenOfTheWorld · 20/04/2015 12:44

Do you realise that he was doing that to save you waiting time?

BallroomWithNoBalls · 20/04/2015 12:47

Citizen do you think what he did was ok? Why are you defending him?

Sheitgeist · 20/04/2015 12:53

Do you realise how much clinical time is spent dictating letters? Shock

Tough. He has no right to break the rules and patient confidentiality, however difficult and time-consuming his job is. It's frightening to think that doctors behave like this.

YWNBU, OP

whiteblossom · 20/04/2015 12:54

Citizen, how was he saving op time? Him, yes. Previous patient maybe....

Op he was out of order, no way would I be happy with my info being read out in front of another patient. I've had consultants dictates letters about ME in front of ME. That's fine.

chocolatelife · 20/04/2015 13:08

but to go to PALS would be OTT. IMO

comeagainforbigfudge · 20/04/2015 13:15

No he was not right to do that.
He should have finished before asking for next patient. Simples

For all he knew, you could have been a journo, or the chief exec of trust.

Clinic appoints have writing up time factored in to it. I have been to many many outpatient appoints lately and have NEVER had this.

And I would also point out that on ward rounds wi Dr's I make them finish notes with one patient before moving to next.

That is how mistakes happen!! It's not rocket science!!

Well done op for challenging the Dr

Jessica2point0 · 20/04/2015 13:35

OMG that's horrifying! What if you knew the person he was talking about?!

bungmean · 20/04/2015 13:43

As a doctor i wouldnt dream of doing this. A significant breach of confidence. Follow up with a message tovthe practice manager to bring up at the next seniors meeting.

Springtimemama · 20/04/2015 13:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FadedRed123 · 20/04/2015 13:52

Well said OP, well done for challenging this. I think you should consider mentioning this to PALS as this is a serious Information Governance issue and breach of confidentiality, and certainly not 'routine practice'.
Citizen - what nonsense.

bungmean · 20/04/2015 14:00

Sorry, didnt realise It wasnt in a gp surgery.
Complain via PALS, or letter to head of department.

Moreisnnogedag · 20/04/2015 14:13

Citizen don't be ridiculous!! I take it you're not a doctor?

I would never dream of doing this - it's incredibly unprofessional. I'm amazed he continued when you pointed it out to him. Out of interest, was it the consultant?