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How do I handle embarrassing visits to the doctor?

Tagged as: Teenage, Troubled relationships<< Previous question   Next question >>
Question - (12 May 2012) 9 Answers - (Newest, 17 May 2012)
A female United States age 26-29, anonymous writes:

My mom took me to the doctor to get a referral for X-rays for my injured knee that I damaged when running during practice for Track. So there was this Medical Assistant guy and he was the one who checked my weight and stuff like that. He also asked me the embarrassing questions of my menstrual cycle and I unwillingly answered. So when he was asking me questions about my menstrual cycle and my diet and the regular questions, I noticed he kept on giving me looks and ignoring my mom. My mom asked him something and he rudely said "Are you telling me or are you asking me?" And my mom said "I was telling you." The guy didn't answer her. So the checkup went by and out of now where, the main doctor states that they have to sample my blood. I was all scared mainly because I hate when they draw my blood, it was my first time going there, and I only needed X-rays to be taken. They sent me to the room where they draw the blood and 2 female assistants were there and I walked in. The male medical assistant walked in and before leaving one of the females touched his arm muscles, said something, and then she left. I was left alone with the guy 'cuz my mom wasn't there. He prepared to take my blood and sice my veins were not showing on my arms he said “Give me both hands”. I did and he clutched both of my hands from my wrists and stood really close to me. I was breathing heavily out of my fear and the medical guy pierced my vein with the needle. My eyes got all watery and he told me "Aww... don't cry. Are you gonna cry?" I blinked away my tears after he said that. Then my breathing slowed down and he kept on saying stuff but I ignored him. Then he actually told me in a whispering voice "Don't faint. Or I will give you mouth to mouth respiration." I pretended I didn't hear. The whole while he was just standing uncomfortably close to me. He put a cotton ball and a band aid and I left to look for my mom. The medical assistant guy came out of the room and started making copies of my referral for the x-rays. I didn't even look at him. When we came home, my mom said that she also noticed the medical guy was just like staring at me while I was standing again the wall waiting for the copy. And she said that she noticed the way he was trying to flirt with me. But I pretended not to have an interest in his say.

And no, I wasn't about to pass out in the doctors office. Come on, I'm in Track. I'm used to dealing with worse physical exertion.

So anyways, I went again to the doctor and I got the same Nurse Guy again and he was being a real flirt. In front of my mom!! And she noticed it. After he left us and we waited for the doctor my mom was telling me how she noticed him being so flirtatious. The Nurse Guy even remembered a conversation my mom and I had in front of him and he was telling me about it and stuff. Since my mom doesn't speak English or speaks it, she was clueless and didn't know what was going on. So she only saw the Nurse Guy flirting with me.

Keep in mind that I am a teenage girl and stuff like this is really... weird. So any advice on how to act in front of this Nurse Guy so that I won't give the look of being an "easy" girl. And to stop my mom from telling me stuff!! Help!!

Thank you.

View related questions: flirt, muscle

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A female reader, MonksDaBomb United States +, writes (17 May 2012):

MonksDaBomb agony auntWow, that guy sounds like a big creep! Tell your doctor, or at least tell the secretary and she will take care of it, if you don't want that guy to hear you. That is unprofessional behavior.

And I, too, always feel uncomfortable when a male doctor asks about my menstrual cycle, but I know it's part of their job.

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A female reader, So_Very_Confused United States +, writes (14 May 2012):

So_Very_Confused agony auntDid you know that big huge football players faint from needles all the time? it's an automatic response that has nothing to do with health or fear... it's something your body may or may not do when you get stuck with a needle.

Personally it doesn't sound that out of line to me... but i've dealt with TONS of medical professionals and I'm a huge flirt myself.... I think he was just trying to make you relax a bit.

However, if you are uncomfortable with him then you have the right to ask to have a different assistant.... and if you can't do that then you have the right to always request a female nurse or assistant be present..

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A reader, anonymous, writes (13 May 2012):

This is verified as being by the original poster of the question

Ok. thanks guys.

More advice is always welcome :)

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A female reader, Honeypie United States + , writes (13 May 2012):

Honeypie agony auntTell your doctor, it is HIGHLY unethical behavior. IF you don't feel like you can talk to your doctor, I would honestly switch provider of you can.

He might have thought he would make you feel "better" by flirting but no MATTER your age that was absolutely WRONG of him. And for you being in the 13-15 age groups makes it really creepy.

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A female reader, aunt honesty Ireland +, writes (12 May 2012):

aunt honesty agony auntMaybe you could try and tell him that his behaviour makes you feel really uncomfortable, talk to your mother about this, and tell her everything and how he makes you feel. Maybe something could be done where you could get your doctor changed. Get your mum to request that he does not be there with you when you visit your doctor.

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A female reader, cheers Indonesia +, writes (12 May 2012):

cheers agony auntthey'r doing correct procedures. but not done in professional way and respect the patients privacy.Oh,dear.

Please voice out to doctor to ba attended by other nurse. if this fail, please go to other clinic

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A female reader, MistressNataliee United Kingdom +, writes (12 May 2012):

First off. it is extremely unethical of him to flirt with you, you are a patient of his and in his care and he is abusing the trust you place in him. Even if you are only in his care for a matter of minutes while he is taking your blood.

Secondly, your age makes the situation all the more worrying! You're under age for anything that he wants to do with you! This guy wants reporting, some poor girl may not be as sensible as you and could end up in an unsafe situation. You should be the one to end this and report him.

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A male reader, Hugh.J United Kingdom +, writes (12 May 2012):

Hugh.J agony auntThis is gross professional misconduct on the part of the Medical Assistant and also to an extent by the Doctor if he knows it is going on and does nothing to stop it.

Report it; no way should you be made to feel uncomfortable or put up with unwelcome attentions. I don't know the procedure for doing this in your country, but I expect there will be plenty of others on here to advise you on this, but as you are underage it is even worse and this creep could/should lose his job.

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A male reader, anonymous, writes (12 May 2012):

As a female, you are well within your rights as a patient to request a female provider in a non-emergency situation,

or to have female staff (or your mother) present in the exam room.

I'm a middle-aged guy and I always insist on a male clinician, and always refuse to allow the presence of female physicians-in-training, medical students, etc. I don't apologize for that, it's beyond my comfort zone and my wishes as a patient should be respected. If not, I vote with my feet and take my business elsewhere. Doctors work for patients, not vice versa, and patients are free to fire doctors at any time for any reason.

Very creepy behavior on part of medical assistant guy, but I'd say best not to make an issue of it if you can avoid doing so, just politely but firmly request you be seen by female staff only; if they can't accomodate your very reasonable request, it's time to find another doctor.

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