I know very well when I step into certain hospitals my physical health is in good hands but I think you’ve forgotten I’m more than a disease. Today when I walked into the emergency room with a blood clot I did so in one of the best hospitals in the state. I expected to be well cared for physically and I was but one of your techs forgot the a test was being run on a HUMAN BEING. She ran the test like a pro like I’m sure she always does but information didn’t reach her that I’m a rape and incest survivor. Despite the fact that I was very upfront about it that information didn’t make it to the tech that really needed to know it. So, I was wheeled down the hallway to have a Doppler in my leg. She asked if I’d ever had the test done before. Without fully getting the answer out of my mouth she opened my legs and shoved a hand towel in side my underclothes. Her finger nails raked across my vaginal area. She then took a bottle of gel which had been warmed and squirted it on my leg. She took the round tipped Doppler head and ran it over my leg in the gel. Technically that is how the test is run HOWEVER she did not give me half a second to tell her not to put her hands in my pants nor to part my legs. She didn’t give me half a chance to tell her I might be tearful through the entire procedure. She got the point when I lay there sobbing. She was even a bit irritated because I told her not to hold my right leg down as she examined the left. After I was unable to speak at all she realized I wasn’t just some annoying patient demanding this and that for the sake of being demanding. But must we patients be reduced to tears before you realize a test can tell you one thing but the human being it’s being run on can tell you much more. At least wait for the answer and please do not forget your clients have to survive not only the test but the flashbacks that may result. Please don’t make it harder to go in to see you when we really need it. If we know a professional will get the test right but leave us spinning what are the chances we’ll follow a doctor’s orders and come to the emergency room when needed? Think about it, if you’re in the medical profession because you care then it would do you good to remember your clients are more than their body. We are mind and spirit. If you can’t see that then you’ve failed us, you’ve failed us miserably.
I AM MORE THAN A BODY.
I AM MORE THAN MY DISEASE.
YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SEE ME THAT WAY.
I WON’T SETTLE FOR LESS.
Austin of Sundrip Journals – not just another patient
To Medical Professionals Lest You Forget – Wednesday, March 11, 2009 – 11:08PM EST
Well said. I flipped out once in the ER and the doctor yelled at me to calm down. He’s lucky he didn’t get decked.
This was very painful to read. I could feel this with you, so well did you express this painful experience. I don’t know what else to say!
Great points here. The medical professiona does not teach much about human kindness!
Oh shudder. That sent a wave of panic over me just reading it. I’d have kicked her.
Hi Austin,
I am so sorry that you were not listened to by medical professionals. It is so frustrating to hear that those types of behaviors continue even with so much education and information available to medical professionals. There is a website that you may find helpful, it is Women Survivors and the Health Care System. It has some really good tips on what you the consumer can do. An example is that you are entitled to have an advocate accompany you to medical appointments. Your local rape crisis center or women’s shelter can provide this for you. Our agency provides training for the new interns and residents at our local family practice. I wish that we could train some of our er docs as well. Even with an advocate they sometimes do not listen. Anyway, sorry to ramble and hope this helps some.
Paula