Allow Male Workers to perform mammograms and breast screening

[CrakdEgg]

OK, so the Society & College of Radiographers have their annual delegates conference, where members bring forward motions for the union to lobby on.
In the past they have passed motions to 'remove gendered language' from health communications for inclusivity - you know, 'pregnant people' and the like. They then lobby behind the scenes to the Government to follow these requests.

This year we have this motion -

Allow Male Workers to Perform Mammograms

Workforce shortages: there are 15 posts for mammographers on NHS jobs. In the UK.

But are we bothered? Do we not want males in this space, or does it not matter because we have male gynaecologists? Or will it dissuade women from attending?

I am interested to hear other people's opinions. My instincts say 'no way Jose', but I am interested in keeping males out of female spaces, so I accept my bias.

Thoughts?

I think they can (up here, anyway )providing they’re specially trained.

In a perfect world I would agree with you. However, there have been many cases where male medical professionals have sexually abused patients, some quite recently.

I'm pretty sure the abused women would have preferred females in those cases, and should be allowed to insist on females for their future care. Without question or being shamed/guilted into accepting males.

The trouble is, we often don't understand how others feel until we go through similar circumstances. A walk a mile in my shoes experience so to speak.

What’s the agenda exactly?

I don’t care who does mine. They are professionals doing a job and I’m grateful for our NHS and that I get it done by anyone

A tit is a tit, as long as I’m being seen I personally am not that bothered who screens me

My understanding is that a chaperone is a medical professional for example an HCA. I was not aware a receptionist could act in this role.

My GP used a member of the reception team, it was a while ago now though, so there may be updated advice ? I have never been routinely asked if I want a chaperone, which is probably poor, even if the person conducting the intimate exam is female. I suppose they assume consent because I merrily take my pants off and assume the position ?

Difficult one. I'd say no mostly because it might reduce the number of women who would get a mammogram.
On the flip, I've had a male midwife and (for me) I don't care if I was seen by a man or woman when it comes to medical stuff. I can't see how a mammogram would be any worse or more invasive than having a baby and all that entails.

Absolutely not. I used to be blade about males performing such care but it is becoming clear to me that some males choosing to do such roles are exactly the type of males you don't want to see you semi naked.

*blase

You can't compare women performing intimate examinations on men with a man being in a tiny room with a woman whilst handling her breasts. Both will find the procedure embarrassing, but there isn't the same power imbalance and the fear/actual risk of sexual assault is completely different.

It's a no from me.

how does that work? Surely female mammographers also lets trans women perform the procedure, if the nhs is so pro TWAW. Surely it should be the other way, if we have men only mammographers that is the only way to exclude TW.

and again if you aren’t happy with your medical practitioner you can refuse and request someone else. You can do this at any point.

Mammograms in the UK are a female only space, one of the only ones that have remained so in defiance of everything else women have had to cede over the last few years.
This is about to be lobbied against, even in the light of the Supreme Court judgement. So, are we bothered?
I think I am bothered, but I wanted to know if I my initial feelings were correct - it seems a very mixed bag of opinions so far. Thanks for all the contributions, so good that we have a space to debate this sort of stuff.

I'd want a chaperone, same as I'd want with a male gynaecologist. But not all gynaecology appointments involve an exam whereas all mammograms do so you'd need many more chaperones.

For those feeling put off, please don’t. It’s awkward, yes. Uncomfortable sometimes.
But it’s not awful because it’s female staff.

You can relax as best as you are able- it’s a weird process because breasts are so clueless- attached but not under control. Someone taking a piece of you and pulling it up onto a plate, then moving you about until everything is positioned correctly related to everything else is weird. It just is.

But when it’s a woman you know she understands.

Wouldn’t bother me at all. I’ve had a male midwife, had a male perform various surgeries on my vagina and womb. I understand not everyone would be comfortable with that though

True. I guess many are not be aware that a chaperone is an option. So much for being able to make informed choices.

it should be a female only service

Now?

NOW!?

Well yes. Interesting timing, no?

While showing my boobs is something I have done a beach, and I have been to a male gynecologist (although prefer a female) there is so much touching during a mammogram while you are pushed, pulled and turned into the right position (not to mention the lifting of the breasts) it feels very different. Hard no from me.

I'm a man, I recently had to go to A&E when a passing kidney stone got stuck a few inches from daylight - it was dealt with my a lovely and highly professional female urologist, who mercifully got the darned thing out with a lot of manipulation, which was not in the least bit pleasant and very painful.

If you are not comfortable working with the human body, and all its bits, then you shouldn't work in medicine, likewise as patients we should trust medical professionals, radiographers included, whether male or female regardless of which bit they are inspecting.

No way. I would refuse one. I am so much more self-conscious about my tits than my fanny. I would hate this.

It’s difficult to explain but with a breast exam a doctor will be at arms length for the most part. With a mammogram, you are standing, your face is at a level with theirs. You have to grip the machine and contort your body to get into the right position whilst they have hands on your breast ready to have it clamped between two plates, you’re asked not to breathe or move so the image is not distorted, and you’re doing it in a darkened, small room so it feels somewhat claustrophobic and intimate in a way that lying on a hospital bed with all the lights on doesn’t.

I would not like to be in a room on my own with a man doing that to me. I would want a female chaperone - and what is the point of having two people on hand to perform a procedure that in the vast majority of cases will be on women who would probably be more comfortable with a woman doing the job on her own?

I wouldn’t be happy with a male giving me a breast or vaginal exam without a female chaperone either. The opportunities for men to abuse women without a chaperone in the room are too great.

So women who aren’t comfortable with a man touching them intimately should be refused medical treatment?

...as patients we should trust medical professionals, radiographers included, whether male or female regardless of which bit they are inspecting.

We should trust in an ideal world but the truth is (as shown by responses on this thread) we all don't.