To not send a photo to the Dr?

[swissrollisntswiss]

DS (4) has a rash around his anus. Very red, with a very clear border. He’s had it for a week now, we’ve tried sudacream but it’s not helped. He’s now complaining that it’s itchy and getting sore. I’ve looked for worms but can’t see any so I’m fairly sure it isn’t that.

After calling the surgery all day I finally get through and I’m told that they can’t see him but to email a photo. I’m not comfortable with this, it feels too private. I’ve sent one when he’s had an eye infection previously, I’m fine with the system but not for this. Is it just me? AIBU?

For full context, I’m not in the UK, I’m British though so not sure if I’m being too British!

It's literally a picture of a rashy bumhole. You are not including his face in the image.
What exactly do you think might happen?

People are so naive. Even to have this photo on OPs phone would be a criminal offence. Let alone how many systems it has to pass through to get onto your drs likely insecure system

God no. Explain you are not going to distribute photographs of the genitalia of a minor.

They can’t be serious. They may have misunderstood where the rash is ?

I'd sent it. It won't have his face in and nobody apart from the doctor will know that it's an image of a 4yo.

And to be really crude about it - every person has an arsehole - I just can't see how a faceless photo of one could be used for porn (or whatever you are thinking).

One of my colleagues is married to a GP. He joined one of our Teams calls, laughing, because he’d just given his wife a cup of tea and saw “a big vulva on her computer screen” — ha ha ha, he thought it was absolutely hilarious. So no, I wouldn’t email in intimate photos. No way.

I don't think the bum is actually genitalia?

Hmmm, yeah I hear ya @swissrollisntswiss I wouldn't like to do this either. It's a bit too intimate. I would not send a photograph of my small child's anus/arse to anyone via email. Not even the GP. IDGAF if they have 'seen it all before.'

I received a similar message from my GP and when I phoned to question it they explained it was a mistake and photos should never be sent of intimate areas. I was given a face to face appointment.

I remember reading about a father who had a lot of trouble after sending a photo of his child's private parts to a doctor after a phone consultation. His e-mail account was shut down by Google. It was flagged by some kind of bot as child abuse images. They didn't seem interested in helping him resolve the matter.

I really can't see the issue with a close up of a bum hole. It needs to feature 0 other parts of him. Just the literal anus. I can't get to worked up about that going on a email really.

Don't photograph, don't send and the practice need to review their safeguarding policy on this if they have requested it knowing what area of the body it is.

🙄 Just because YOU 'can't get worked up' about it, that doesn't mean the OP (and anyone else) shouldn't. Such a patronising response!

Perhaps not as defined but close enough.

Also even if it’s not genitals likely to be visible in the photo !

If you're not in the UK, you need to ask some people in the same country as you what is considered normal there! This may be absolutely routine, or it may be a bit weird. Then you can decide how you feel about it.

A hundred people saying their UK GP wouldn't ask for this is of absolutely no relevance if you don't live here.

I assume the important thing is the health of your wee boy, not whether the rest of the world does things in a 'British' approved way, which is where the thread is heading.

It's completely safe to send a photo to the GP, they will treat it completely confidentially.

But also you can't necessarily see threadworms, and their eggs are definitely too small to see to a course of threadworm treatment wouldn't do any harm while you wait.

Absolutely not!

As a parent is a clear safeguarding concern, has it just been asked via an automated reply or has someone asked you to send a photo of your child’s anus?

i’d be making a formal complaint either way as sending this photo could put you in a potential situation legally as would come under distribution of child sexual images.

Dear god. The number of people who don't realize that photographing and emailing an image of a child's intimate parts is hugely problematic (legally, morally and from a safeguarding POV) is literally terrifying. Trust your own gut here OP - it was steering you entirely correctly.

Not a chance would I take or send that photo, you absolutely do not want to rationalise photos of intimate areas to your child nor lose control of those images.

Crop the photo to show just the rash, no other features, if possible. Then send.

My son had a bad rash and pain on his privates during lockdown. He was about 5 at the time and I was asked to send in a photo of the area on a secure system. I refused. I don't care how secure they say the system is, I'm not having images of his genitals sent anywhere! We all know systems fail and data breaches are common. We did end up getting a face to face appt in the end. Mind boggling. Def stick to your guns OP!

I wouldn't send a photo either.

Could you speak to a pharmacist?

Sudocrem is vicious stuff if you are allergic or sensitive to the ingredients and can cause burning. I bought it and used it on my son and he has never been allergic to anything else before or since and the sudocrem made his skin very sore.

My baby was also allergic, with a similar result.

I'd treat for worms anyway, as they're difficult to spot.

Don't send a photo. Whoever has asked that hasn't thought it through properly.

I'd treat for worms anyway, as they're difficult to spot.

Don't send a photo. Whoever has asked that hasn't thought it through properly.