Our family doctor’s office before every visit has started asking a new standard question: “Should your visit today require it do you consent to the presence of a medically trained chaperone?
I’m a male seeing only a male doctor so the question seems inapplicable to me but the only options are to answer yes or no. If I ever needed a medical exam that would require the presence of an unnecessary third person (who most likely would be one of the female office assistants) I answer no but I believe this may place an unwanted barrier between my trusted doctor and me. I feel like they may be turning my private medical encounters into an embarrassing spectator sport making my already severe medical anxiety unbearable. If they force this on me I will stop going to doctors even for my one annual physical.
Has anyone else encountered this? How have you managed it? What is a “medically trained” chaperone? Are there chaperone schools?
Thank you.
Written by
Modestmale
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I had third parties at many doctor visits because my clinic is attached to a teaching hospital, so medical students are sometimes there, but I do have the option to say "no" (I have always said "yes"). I think you should ask them what they mean by medical chaperone, but here's what the University of Michigan system (not mine) means by it: uofmhealth.org/patient-visi...
Thanks for your reply. I’m glad you have not been confronted with this.
This is a family practice not a teaching hospital. They never have students.In the past they would routinely have a female chaperone if my wife was having a pap smear by our male doctor. She is comfortable with that.
They now seem to be extending that policy inexplicably to a male doctor performing a genital, rectal or some other sensitive exam of a male patient.
My approach is to refuse because it is unnecessary and would cause undue anxiety. If they keep pushing this or retaliate against me I’ll likely have to rely upon telehealth where I don’t have to be confronted in person by anyone who makes me uncomfortable.
I find the whole concept of chaperones to be a contradiction! The medical world claims to be completely professional in all that they do but the reason for a chaperone is to prevent any sexual improprieties. If there is nothing sexual about intimate procedures why do they feel the need prevent from happening that which never happens????
I left my doctor who I thought was very knowledgeable and a good practitioner. he brought in a chaperone/scribe/nurse/ whatever he chose to call her and asked me if it was ok as I stood there in just a gown. he knew I have serious issues and would never allow that and so he hues the flight freeze response to have me trapped there. TOTALLY unacceptable. I agree totally. I agree you have no cause to go back and consent to that. the only thing I wish I had was the chance to tell him ahead of time that if he chose that path I would not be coming back.
It’s unprofessional and reckless to ambush a patient in that way. I guess I’m fortunate they gave me warning and a chance to refuse consent ahead of time. If my doctor ever tries something so despicable, I will always have a copy of my written refusal and I will go after him, the attempted voyeur and their employer for violation of ethical rules and assault.
Have always been asked before intimate exam. Couple of times when the Doc' just brought someone in. If a Nurse they usually observed if 'other' staff they stood in corner but did not watch.
Well none of it makes any sense and seems to work against patients.
Ugh this brought back memories from when I was a kid. I had some birth defect stuff I was dealing with that required I be on an exam table, fully unclothed but with a gown on, but it was pulled up to my waist to expose my lower half. I still don’t know why I even had the gown at that point. 🤦🏼♂️
It was a teaching hospital. So here I am. 12 years old. Laying on this table with everything on display and about 8 medical students come in and observe the procedure. Men. Women. I distinctly remember looking over and seeing this one woman was obviously looking right at my penis. I’m well into puberty at this point and Well as I’ve said before a light breeze has always been enough for me. Shortly after everyone walked in my Penis went straight up and I was erect for the entire procedure. So embarrassing. I don’t know if they asked my parents for consent for that but they certainly didn’t ask me. But I think that’s now why I associate doctors exams with being something erotic.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
