To have found my first mammogram really upsetting?

[YompingJo]

Got a letter through with very basic details if an appointment. Turned up and found the whole thing demeaning. Tiny room, intimidating machine taking up most of it. The radiologist was monosyllabic and bossy and manhandled me into the right position including grabbing each breast and shoving it into position, pushing other bits of my body out of the way, not once asking first. I know it's a necessary procedure, but a bit of sensitivity would have gone a long way, and having the respect to ask for consent before grabbing a breast is a basic consideration. I'm autistic and needed to know much more what to expect beforehand. The letter gave a way to request assistance in the case of SEN, but I don't consider myself to have SEN and didn't know what I'd need until I was right there, so that wasn't any help. There was a QR code for feedback, which I gave but I just feel... invaded and demeaned. AIBU?

Totally ridiculous to compare a medical procedure used to screen and identify potential disease to a violation of one's body in the context of an assault. You really need to get a grip.

Oh wow. I cant believe that's your take on this?

It is 'about consent' if you apply a very simplistic and dumbed down approach, yes.

Why would you want to complicate it?

Consent is simple, you are either informed what’s going to happen and you agree or you’re not.

The only people who want it complicated are the ones who want to abuse someone. Abuse comes in many forms. If there isn’t a clear policy of informing and consenting patients for simple procedures then this sets the scene for potential abuse.

it’s really not that difficult to understand, unless some has an different agenda.

I find breast imaging people are always quite detached, matter of fact and robotic. I suspect it's because they aren't allowed to give anything away and if they are too friendly, people might be more likely to ask if things looked okay. Only once have I had a friendly one for a breast ultrasound when younger and she did tell me that things looked okay after the scan.

I am saying that your comparison of it being purely about consent when referring to a medical procedure vs a violation is simplistic and therefore reductive. I am not saying that I want to complicate it. If you don't understand that reading the invitation letter, taking up the invite without coersion and with free will for a medical procedure that anyone can read about, implies consent then I really cannot help you.

Why would I want help from you?

Rhetorical statement, try it sometime.

I am normally of this stoic mindset too. There was just something about this whole experience that was not OK. I normally speak up without hesitation if I feel my boundaries are being crossed but as someone previously mentioned, I guess it was the power dynamics of the situation that stopped me doing so.

The letter, and the check in process, made it all seem so routine. At the check in the woman ascertained it was my first mammogram, so I assumed that would be taken into consideration. I was so taken aback by the manner of the radiographer, and how unexpectedly vulnerable I felt walking topless into the room and then having bits of me grabbed with no prior warning, that my normal confident DGAF attitude completely left me and I didn't feel able to speak up at that point.

I am hugely grateful for the service, just not for the manner in which it was carried out.

Try what?

Show complete disregard for patients and then try and be clever when you are told you are wrong, instead of realising that people have reasons for concerns? Is this what I should be trying?

. If you don't understand that reading the invitation letter, taking up the invite without coersion and with free will for a medical procedure that anyone can read about, implies consent then I really cannot help you.

Do you not realise how similar this is to every rapist’s defence? It goes like this “ She must have known what was going to happen there, she read my texts, she texted back, she came over willingly, this implies her consent”.

So no, I don’t want your help, rhetorical or otherwise.

And I hope you are not a HCP.,

Yet they are chastised for not being smiley, not talking, not asking for consent when their priority is making clear images that can be clinically interpreted under time constraints. It is so baffling.

Well you're easily baffled. Clearly don't work in healthcare or know anything about informed consent, which should be obtained before any medical procedure, especially when it involves grabbing a woman's breasts, otherwise you could be looking an assault complaint. I would have though medical professionals would be more than aware of this. Sexual assaults in hospitals is rife.
Sorry you had to go though that OP, I would absolutely be putting in a complaint, that HCP needs to learn some bedside manners and have some training in gaining informed consent.

You have not told me I am wrong, you have expressed an opinion with which I disagree. I really think you have a comprehension problem when you feel the need to compare a rapist's defence with a medical procedure undertaken by a trained healthcare worker. It really is so lacking in basic understanding that you would conflate the two which tells me a lot about your mindset. When I said it is a rhetorical statement I literally mean that I am not stating I want to help you, it is a turn of phrase.

I know a lot about informed consent. When the letter is sent, no special needs are indicated, and there is information provided about the procedure - that would qualify as informed non verbal consent, to compare it to a rapist's defence is so revolting and shameful of you. The 'grabbing' is what was perceived by the OP. I have no idea if the radiographer would agree with this statement. But you continue take everything at face value - it sounds like you are very adept at this.

I find it odd that you willing attend a mammogram appointment but expect to be asked if your breasts can be touched. How on earth would they scan you otherwise?

You have presumed it was more hands off than it is but you definitely should have researched it first.

Blimey, they'd have a hard job making my breasts like pita breads, I hardly have anything to squash! I wonder how they do it with v small breasted women?

I had no idea as I said earlier, I thought you positioned yourself. I can understand why it was a bit of a surprise for the OP.

It’s interesting to read how defensive some posters are.

The way to deal with a complaint like this is to:

• Review the wording on the information that’s sent to patients in advance. A minor wording change to make it more explicit who is being offered extra support (not just SEN) could help.
• Does that particular staff member have other complaints against them, is something going on for them?
• Does the screening team needs some refresher training.
• Are there other circumstances to take into such as staff shortages?

I know a lot about informed consent

My dogs know a lot about cats. Doesn’t mean I would trust them with one.

I’m sorry you had that experience OP, and I do think you should complain. It’s shocking to also see so many women(?) on here who seem to revel in other women being treated like dogs. They have zero concern for our comfort or any past traumas, and seem to think we should be happy to be treated as less than human. It’s a revolting attitude.

It sounds like your issue wasn't the test, but that you got a HCP with a crap bedside manner, so no amount of research would have helped. I have to have regular very invasive medical procedures, and the manner of the person makes such a difference. Most of the professionals I see are fantastic, but I once had a doctor make 8 attempts at starting an iv. Most doctors at least warn you when they are going to put the needle, but this guy didn't say a word, except to get annoyed when I involuntarily jumped when he stuck a needle in with no warning.

So now we also can’t trust a woman when she speaks of being grabbed? Is that just by medical staff or by anyone? How hard is it to just fucking ask first?

Rest assured I'm a woman. And I don't see how the OP was treated as less than human.

Well let me help you, because she wasn’t asked for consent or treated with empathy when in a vulnerable situation. Why do you think medical staff shouldn’t have to do those things?

This

I've had several and the nurses have always been kind and respectful

I do understand op. I have skin cancer and have been treated with consideration throughout two ops. I include this only to demonstrate I am not oversensitive. But I dread this procedure because there is a staff member at our local unit who is so cold, unkind and I believe unnecessarily rough. Last time I went, she called me and she knew, I could see it on her face, that she recalled my distress. I actually considered leaving. The procedure was carried out in silence, no asking or explanation. I get it is a professional procedure that they do day in, day out but it is not an everyday procedure to those attending. I am not of the school that women should be grateful.