I recently wrote this letter to the large Dermatology practice I go to. It goes into detail about how men feel about how they are currently being treated with regard to their privacy and dignity during medical examinations. I wrote it specifically to dermatologists but it could be easily adapted for any Specialty.
Please feel free to copy and paste any, or all, of it and send it to your doctor's practice. I sent one to each doctor in the practice and the practice manager.
I think this letter should go a long way in helping doctors and staff in understanding the truth about male modesty and how to make small changes in the way they conduct exams thereby make the examinations more dignified.
Name of Dermatology Clinic
ATTN: Dr. XXXXXXXXX
Date XX/XX/XXX
Dear Dr. xxxxxxxxx,
As a concerned patient, I want to make you aware of what men are saying, on multiple blogs, concerning their visits to the dermatologist. The consensus among these men agrees with the experiences I have had regarding my privacy. Although this is not widely appreciated, most men are just as modest as women! Just like women would never tolerate having a male assistant looking on during her pelvic exam, most men find it humiliating to have a female assistant staring at them unnecessarily when they have to expose their genitalia. Men expect to receive the same dignity and privacy afforded women. Unfortunately, many men feel ambushed by a female assistant and most men feel too intimidated and embarrassed to speak-up. They state that it is very demeaning for them to be completely naked while the scribe stares at them. When this happens, they feel violated and many vow to never come back for further exams. Some even report needing therapy for PTSD-like trauma! This disregard for a man’s emotional trauma results in him not following-up on possible life-threatening conditions (i.e. Melanoma) and that likely contributes to the shorter life span of men. Women are tired of losing their fathers, brothers, sons and husbands sooner than they should. This does not mean that male assistants have to be provided. If a female assistant is needed to take down physician’s notes, then she should be TAUGHT TO REPECT THE PATIENT’S DIGNITY BY TURNING AWAY during the genital/perianal portion of the exam. This should occur without the assistant having to be told by the doctor or the patient! The doctor can dictate his findings while she has her back turned. If an assistant is needed to perform a procedure (i.e. Biopsy) then the patient should be covered except for the lesion that needs to be biopsied.
The comfort of the patient is paramount, so much so, that Congress passed the “Patient’s Bill of Rights”, legally guaranteeing the patient’s Privacy and Dignity.
Men are saying that they are fed up with this type of disrespect and invasion of their privacy. They believe that many medical professionals, particularly nurses and assistants, are indifferent to male modesty and routinely dismiss men with bullying and shaming practices, unbeknownst to the physician. “We’ve seen it all!” is of no consolation to the man being exposed unnecessarily. Some are even considering litigation.
I hope you will be willing to make these minor changes to make it more comfortable for your male patients. I believe most men would greatly appreciate this consideration.
Most sincerely,
Current Male Patient
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