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Original poster

Sonographer behaviour

64 replies

Fifi80 · 21/09/2023 11:33

Has anyone had a sonographer leaning their arm on their hip during an ultrasound scan for support? Is that normal?

I’m a bit shaken. It was a male sonographer and we were alone in the room. Made me feel uncomfortable and I’m shaking now. Not sure what to do.

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Original poster
Fifi80 · 21/09/2023 13:58

@WeWereInParis sounds like it's a common practice. Thank you for sharing.

OP posts:
therealcookiemonster · 21/09/2023 14:07

@Fifi80 I think you've hit the nail on the head... it was a lack of communication skills.... if he had simply said sorry but I have to put my arm here while I do the scan I'm sure you would have been fine. also just so you know you are always entitled to a chaperone so feel free to ask for one.

even as a female, I always offer one to my awake patients except in emergencies.

Usernamen · 21/09/2023 14:17

Were you not offered a chaperone?

I’ve never had a male doctor (seen various GPs and gynaecologists over the years), but I would expect to be offered a chaperone if I was discussing anything intimate or pregnancy related with a man.

(I would likely decline the offer btw - I tend to trust doctors.)

Original poster
Fifi80 · 21/09/2023 14:23

@therealcookiemonster you know what, I think you're right. I did feel a bit awkward having bradycardia with my son several times and having the entire 7 people crew and students come in, but I was warned before and was asked for my consent. I didn't know I could ask for a chaperone. Thank you for that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fifi80 · 21/09/2023 14:26

@Usernamen No, unfortunately, I was not. When I followed the sonographer and we entered the room I discovered it was only him and me. I told him I was surprised there wasn't anyone else in the room. He didn't offer the option of calling a chaperon and I didn't know I was entitled to ask for one.

OP posts:
Jellycats4life · 21/09/2023 14:29

I’m not surprised that you felt like he was treating you like a piece of meat rather than a patient. Sounds like he has a poor manner and could do with some people skills. I would consider making a complaint, if you feel up to it.

emilybr · 21/09/2023 15:04

@HenriettaBaguetta his arm was holding the ultra-scan?

Dadpole · 21/09/2023 15:58

Hi OP, I do ultrasounds as part of my practice.

Just to echo what previous posters have said, it is a very common practice to rest your forearm on your patient while scanning. I sometimes rest my forearm on the patient being scanned, especially if it’s a longish scan or a scan that requires a steady hand - these are particularly for measurements and scans to look at blood vessels. Both of these are often required for obstetric scans.

I am always careful to ask permission however, whether I am scanning a man or a woman. He may have been concentrating hard and forgotten to do so. It is a bit strange that he didn’t introduce himself or that he didn’t have an assistant in the room. It’s probably that he is new and/or a bit nervous. I would definitely provide constructive feedback.

emilybr · 21/09/2023 15:59

Why would they need an assistant in the room? I've never had a scan with an assistant in the room.

Jazsimone · 21/09/2023 16:05

@Fifi80

So basically you didn't trust him from the start because he was male?

emilybr · 21/09/2023 16:07

@Jazsimone yes

Dadpole · 21/09/2023 16:20

Imaging assistants bring the patient in, chaperone, do admin stuff, conduct the patient out. They help out during procedures.

All the places I’ve worked in have had them. Maybe it varies from hospital to hospital.

emilybr · 21/09/2023 16:22

Dadpole · 21/09/2023 16:20

Imaging assistants bring the patient in, chaperone, do admin stuff, conduct the patient out. They help out during procedures.

All the places I’ve worked in have had them. Maybe it varies from hospital to hospital.

For a maternity scan?

mummylove24 · 21/09/2023 18:36

You can ask for a chaperone, whether male or female.

Original poster
Fifi80 · 21/09/2023 20:13

@mummylove24 thank you. I will know for next time.

OP posts:
emilybr · 21/09/2023 20:15

@Fifi80 do you have an issues being in a room alone with a male? Eg you wouldn't go to a doctors appointment alone if it was a male? Wouldn't allow a male to cut your hair etc? I'm just wondering if you generally don't feel comfortable being alone with a male. It's ok if you don't;

Original poster
Fifi80 · 21/09/2023 21:19

@emilybr not at all. I have been seen my male doctors before, non of which felt as uncomfortable.

OP posts:
emilybr · 21/09/2023 22:23

I just don't know why you need a chaperone for a stomach ultrasound and why this has affected you so much? I would say it's weird to rest their arm but I don't know if it would phase me if they did what you suggested.

CauliflowerBlue · 21/09/2023 22:37

emilybr · 21/09/2023 22:23

I just don't know why you need a chaperone for a stomach ultrasound and why this has affected you so much? I would say it's weird to rest their arm but I don't know if it would phase me if they did what you suggested.

OP has already said why it has affected them so much. Another poster summarised OP’s description as sounding like they were a slab of meat. Being treated like a slab of meat is not something that feels nice.

Something felt off, OP listened to that feeling and is now trying to work out what caused it. Faux outrage at her response doesn’t help her work it out.

emilybr · 21/09/2023 22:52

@CauliflowerBlue I can write whatever I want.

It's an opinion.

Jazsimone · 22/09/2023 08:25

@CauliflowerBlue

Op might have been treated "like a slab of meat" because as soon as she realised she was going to be treated by a male sonographer she discredited him because of his gender - expecting an assistant and verbalising this to the sonographer.

What the Op has described is standard procedure in terms of leaning on the hip. I have personally had a sonographer lean on my hip, they have a job to do.

This man has gone to university, trained hard in his field, to be "put down" by his gender and then have remarks such as " I was shaking" what by a man doing his job. If it was a woman would she have been left shaking?

AnSolas · 22/09/2023 08:38

emilybr · 21/09/2023 22:23

I just don't know why you need a chaperone for a stomach ultrasound and why this has affected you so much? I would say it's weird to rest their arm but I don't know if it would phase me if they did what you suggested.

The chaperone is there to protect the employee.
You dont need to know why the OP felt the way she did.
You are free to react anyway to want to and feel any emotion you want to.

You are being rude to suggest the OP owes you attention just because you dont understand what happened in a room you were not in between two people you dont know.

PS babies are not gestated in the stomach

AnSolas · 22/09/2023 08:54

Jazsimone · 22/09/2023 08:25

@CauliflowerBlue

Op might have been treated "like a slab of meat" because as soon as she realised she was going to be treated by a male sonographer she discredited him because of his gender - expecting an assistant and verbalising this to the sonographer.

What the Op has described is standard procedure in terms of leaning on the hip. I have personally had a sonographer lean on my hip, they have a job to do.

This man has gone to university, trained hard in his field, to be "put down" by his gender and then have remarks such as " I was shaking" what by a man doing his job. If it was a woman would she have been left shaking?

Op might have been treated "like a slab of meat" because as soon as she realised she was going to be treated by a male sonographer she discredited him because of his gender

The man decided to go into a trade which deals with a lot women some of whom will have had a bad experience with a man and some of whom will just not like to be touched by strangers.

If he has trained hard in his field he should be professional enough to do his job and part of that is to obtain informed consent. If he is going to spend 10 using the OP's hip as an arm prop it would be professional to explain what he is doing.

expecting an assistant and verbalising this to the sonographer.

If you are going to make things up that did not happen at least read the the OP's post where she explains that she did not expect a chaperone as she was not informed that she could request one.

If she has known and asked?
So what, any professional who gets upset and treats a person like a slab of meat due to being asked about a chaperone should not be working in any profession which needs a chaperone

emilybr · 22/09/2023 09:28

@AnSolas oP owes me attention? Wtf.... weird.

emilybr · 22/09/2023 09:29

Jazsimone · 22/09/2023 08:25

@CauliflowerBlue

Op might have been treated "like a slab of meat" because as soon as she realised she was going to be treated by a male sonographer she discredited him because of his gender - expecting an assistant and verbalising this to the sonographer.

What the Op has described is standard procedure in terms of leaning on the hip. I have personally had a sonographer lean on my hip, they have a job to do.

This man has gone to university, trained hard in his field, to be "put down" by his gender and then have remarks such as " I was shaking" what by a man doing his job. If it was a woman would she have been left shaking?

100%.