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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nurse didn’t ask for my consent

58 replies

emmagreen481 · 20/12/2018 16:44

I had an early scan on 9th July at 7 weeks pg because of a previous ectopic pregnancy, and the scan lady I had was so horrible and it was just a horrific experience overall. It was an internal scan to check the baby which she showed the baby to me for literally half a second and after that she proceeded to perform an internal scan of my bladder, kidneys etc which took around 15 mins and was extremely painful. She didn’t ask for my consent to do this or to even have the student in the room. I was clearly in pain and she did it so rough, I was crying and the student asked me if I was okay and I said it was really painful but the scan lady just continued. Also when I asked for a picture, she actually laughed at me and said ‘yeah but you can’t see anything’ which really upset me due to my previous ectopic, on this scan I could see the baby in the uterus which was a big thing for me and my partner. I saw a post on Facebook the other day about ‘birth room rape’ and doctors not asking for consent to procedures and it’s got me thinking if i should make a complaint or not?

OP posts:
ShockedHorrored · 20/12/2018 16:48

I presume you gave her consent for the actual scan? I do think once you said it was painful she should have stopped and adjusted her angle or tried to make it more comfortable for you. She sounds horrible and I’d definitely raise the issue. I wouldn’t have expected a photo. I had an early scan at 7 weeks to check I wasn’t having twins as I had hyperemesis but I didn’t expect (and didn’t get) a photo.

CocoLoco87 · 20/12/2018 16:53

Sorry you've had a bad experience. I agree she should have stopped if you were visibly in pain or given you an indication that she'd be 10 more seconds and then all over etc.

With the consent, what were you at the appointment for? Presumably you turned up for an internal scan, took your trousers off and hopped up on the bed. Obviously you can still ask them not to proceed at that point, but maybe she assumed you knew what you were there for?

cheesywotnots · 20/12/2018 16:54

That sounds very traumatic, are you sure it was a nurse, they wouldnt normally be doing these scans and I don't know if they scan your kidneys and bladder internally, that seems very unlikely. Whatever happened perhaps you could speak to the doctor who ordered the scans or maybe discuss this with PALS at the hospital where it was done.

Pippa12 · 20/12/2018 17:01

I'm sorry you've had a bad experiance, internal scams can be uncomfortable and its a shame the sonographer didnt offer reassurance.

Im confused as to what she did without consent tho. The scan is to check all the reproductive organs, without sounding harsh, i wouldn't be expecting a lingering look or picture.

NOTthepinkranger · 20/12/2018 17:04

Can you be clearer on what you didn’t consent to...

Original poster
emmagreen481 · 20/12/2018 17:07

The scan was to check the baby was in my uterus, she then went onto do a scan of my whole insides as a demonstration for the student which took 15 mins instead of the 1/2 minutes it was supposed to take for the scan

OP posts:
Original poster
emmagreen481 · 20/12/2018 17:07

No it wasn’t a nurse but sonographer would of took too long

OP posts:
Pippa12 · 20/12/2018 17:09

Bloody hell... 15 minutes of an internal scan????

Original poster
emmagreen481 · 20/12/2018 17:10

Also I’ve had several of these scans before because I’ve had an ectopic, I’ve also had a scan at 5 weeks for the same pg but had to go back for this one because they couldn’t see a heartbeat that early. Never have they took that long and never have I had someone so insensitive, and she completely ignored the fact I was there for the majority of the scan. I was just so scared I would miscarry from it

OP posts:
ambereeree · 20/12/2018 17:11

Yes complain. I've had an ectopic rupture and surgery to remove the tube which means internal scans are now extremely painful.

Katinkka · 20/12/2018 17:11

Complain, that is dreadful. I had a horrible experience years ago when I had to have cervical cells zapped. Had a room full of people watching and they didn’t ask me! I passed out afterwards from stress. I was telling the nurse who did my smear test the other week about it and she said it wouldn’t happen now. Looks like it probably would. I’m livid on your behalf.

redexpat · 20/12/2018 17:11

I know you were in pain (been there) but you didnt say stop.

Yes her bedside manner needs work.

nellieellie · 20/12/2018 17:11

So, if you didn’t know she was going to do the extended scan until she was doing it, and she didn’t ask for your consent, then yes, it IS assault. Make a written note immediately, contact PALS and follow formal complaints procedure. This is horrendous. Your body is your body. They cannot just think, ok, while Im here I’ll do something else to to show a student! Outrageous, so sorry OP. You need to do something about this. They need to be apologising big time.

ichifanny · 20/12/2018 17:12

Consent doesn’t have to be verbal as such in healthcare but can be implied , I’m assuming you didn’t ask her to stop doing the scan ? They can be uncomfortable so she may be used to people being In discomfort during the scans .

nellieellie · 20/12/2018 17:13

You don’t have to say ‘stop’. If the short procedure ended and she was doing a further scan that you had not been warned of, they need consent.

ichifanny · 20/12/2018 17:13

Unless she inserted the probe with no warning which would be unlikely as you need to remove underwear etc .

AssassinatedBeauty · 20/12/2018 17:13

They should have asked for your consent for the student to be present and also for any additional scans that were only for the student's benefit. Separately, she should not have laughed at you and she should have noticed that you were in pain and been empathetic towards you.

All of which I think would be something to write to the relevant body about.

Katinkka · 20/12/2018 17:13

She shouldn’t need to say stop! She had consented to the necessary scan only! The woman can’t just then do what she likes.

redexpat · 20/12/2018 17:14

Oh I missed some of what youd written. Not asking about the student is bad. Not explaining what she was doing or why was bad. Laughing is really cruel.

Katinkka · 20/12/2018 17:14

You’re in such a vulnerable position when you have the internal scanner in. Just awful.

nellieellie · 20/12/2018 17:15

They need consent for the student too.im surprised at some of the remarks here tbh. Just because you’ve consented to one thing doesn’t mean they can do what they like ‘while they’re there’.

ichifanny · 20/12/2018 17:17

I’m assuming the scanner was already in place with consent , it wouldn’t be the norm for the scan technician to gain further consent mid way through unless you indicated otherwise . You said you were in pain so that should have been enough to bring the proceedings to a halt .

ChristmasArmadillo · 20/12/2018 17:17

I am almost completely sure they can’t see your bladder and kidneys etc via transvaginal u/s, I doubt she will have been doing that. They are quite painful, more so for some than others, but I’m not sure what you expected her to do? You don’t say you asked her to stop and she continued. I am always grimacing and flinching during mine and they might say “sorry if it hurts” but usually they just get on with it. In my experience they’re too focused on their job to chat or really say anything to you at all. As in all cases, some sonographers have a better bedside manner than others but your experience sounds completely within the realm of typical.

Pachyderm1 · 20/12/2018 17:19

15 minutes for an internal scan is rally weird. I’ve had a non-pregnancy related internal scan and it was less than 5 minutes. I can’t fathom how it could be 15! So yes, if I were you I would complain.

ChristmasArmadillo · 20/12/2018 17:19

I just saw your further update. Did she say she was doing this? My internal ultrasounds to check on a pregnancy have always taken 15+ minutes. If she actually did an irrelevant ultrasound without asking you first then yes, actually, I’d complain.