3rd Trimester
aegrimm
member
If you've had internals with a male OB?
aegrimm
member
Just a question: did he have the nurse in the room for your internals? He always has a nurse in there when he does paps, etc, but not for the internal? He didn't actually look under the sheet, though, is that why?
My sister has the same OB as me and she said he didn't have his nurse in the room for her internals either.
I'm not worried about anything funky or creepy, but it seems like a liability risk to me?
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Re: If you've had internals with a male OB?
I have never had an internal or pap by a male OB at my practice...but I did have one check a lump in my breast once...and he had to have a nurse in there for that exam.
Um, what? I don't understand... so if your OB is a man, he has to have someone else in the room with him when you get a PAP or an internal?
Is this a state law? Cuz my regular OB is a man and he's never had anyone else in the room when I have my annual visit. I mean, it's his job. I would never be worried about something like that - he has a license to practice medicine.
Or am I missing something?
I'm not sure if it's a state law or just a personal preference for the doctor...maybe it's based on malpractice insurance? Maybe they have different requirements?
nope.
But my old gyno in another state always did....and she was a woman.
Cuz my next question would be: what about pediatricians? Or any male doctors? Would all male doctors (whether OB or not) have to be supervised with female patients? Yeah, I've got to believe insurance/malpractice has something to do with it, but, geez. I'd be pretty pissed if I were a male OB.
Haha, or his nurse? It can't be comfortable standing there and watching someone get a PAP...because she has to stand where she has a "view"....awkward! lol
No. I never really thought about it until a few weeks ago when I was talking about this with my father in law. He is a obgyn and he said all dr's should have a nurse in the room with them for liabilty issues.
Now that I think about it he never had a nurse in the room for my pap either. But I wasn't worried about anything funky going on so I guess that's why I never thought about it.
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It is not a law or requirement, but many male OBs and other dr's that have to examine women will have female RN's, techs, etc in the room for liability reasons. I work in a hospital as an US tech and have had male dr's ask me to hang out in the room while they examine a female patient to be safe. They are completely professional but you never know what a patient may say or if she would take something the wrong way. It just helps to have a witness.
I have actually done the opposite--if a male patient creeps me out and I have to do a sensitive US (like a testicular or prostate US) I have brought male co-workers in to observe. I have had several occations where a creepy male patient has hit on me (while scanning his testicles--really, does he honestly think that is APPROPRIATE?!?!) so having a male witness in the room decreases my liability for the patient to then come back and say I was the inappropriate one (especially if they are pissed I turned them down.)
My OB won't even come near me dressed or undressed unless there is a nurse in the room. A few times, he wouldn't even close the door to the room (there is a curtain that is closed) until the nurse comes into the room then she will close the door. He will talk to me and check my chart see if I have questions etc but he stands a good 4-5 ft away from me. When he examines me, he takes a quick peek to see where his hand is going but otherwise he stands staring at the ceiling.
I can't blame him though, its such an easy way to be accused of something. and it only takes a min to make sure a nurse is with him to keep him safe too.
My father is a doctor and won't close the door to the exam room if a nurse isn't present. It is a liability issue. It isn't a law or requirement by the state. There are some crazy people out there, and no doctor will ever win the he said/she said debate in court.
My OB will come in and talk to me, but if there is any nakedness involved the nurse comes with him. I was suprised he would come in and shut the door by himself.
I think that with my OB the nurse was there for the initial pap, but hasn't been for the internals. My old Gyno never had a nurse in the room for any exams.