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weird experience with toddler at doctors - would you complain?

4 replies

MaeBee · 05/07/2008 20:02

i took my son to the doctors - yet again - for his excema on friday. we had an appointment with a male doctor i hadn't met before, but who is a regular doctor there. the practice is a really progressive and good one, and i've never had a bad experience there.
the doctor acted in a way that i hadn't experienced before,and it made me uncomfortable. he basically pulled my son's trousers off to look at his legs (other doctors have pulled them up) and then undid his nappy and felt around his groin and bum without asking me or my son first.
the other doctors have always asked before looking at even his legs, and when i had to take his trousers off for a vacinaation, the nurse there had asked me to do it. i think this is unprofessional.
BUT im loathe to put in a complaint cos of the hysteria around paedophillia, and i don't want a 'touching kids' complaint to ruin his career.
on the other hand, i did have an odd instinct about it all, and i was the one who called a halt on the doctor touching him cos i felt it had gone on too long.
i don't know if i've just had an amazingly good experience with doctors before, who have been right on and polite and good with kids, and this one just was a bit boorish and rude? or whether this seems a genuine thing to complain about?
please can you tell me if anyone out there has any knowledge of what doctor's etiquette is meant to be with child patients, and any advice?

OP posts:
MaeBee · 05/07/2008 20:04

i should add my son's excema is mostly on his arms and neck and is very obvious to look at, but i had also taken his top off to show the doctor the pimples over his back - which the doctor said were indeed excema. he also said with excema it is likely to not be so bad in the nappy area - which i assume is why he looked in the nappy.

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ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 05/07/2008 20:05

For me it isn't about paedophillia, it's about manners and patient dignity.

I bet he wouldn't do it to an adult, so it is not acceptable to do it to a child or baby.

I would complain.

stuckinthecorner · 05/07/2008 21:24

Have spoken to Dh (a Dr) who says it`s probably just poor bedside manner and nothing to worry about BUT recommends having an informal word with the practice manager. He reckons the practice are probably aware he has a poor approach with patients but if you are concerned others will be too and they might have a more dramatic reaction. You might be doing him a favour....

MaeBee · 06/07/2008 10:24

thanks so much both of you!
i have a friend who is a GP at the practice and is very level headed, i think i will have a word with her.

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