Was I violated during surgery?

Agracier said

I'm certain there are also a lot of copycat complaints or people who let their imaginations get carried away and start to imagine all sorts of untoward things.

99% of the "me too" movement is based on this.

There was a scandal in France a couple years ago when it became apparent that in teaching hospitals the senior staff incited trainees to conduct digital vaginal and rectal exams on patients under anesthesia without any medical reason, purely as training, and without the patient's consent.

I believe that. I was in teaching hospital for an angiogram and got shaved by a student nurse and again by the regular nurse. Oh well. I'm sure they were doing these types of exams probably routinely and got caught.

... digital vaginal and rectal exams on patients under anesthesia without any medical reason, purely as training, and without the patient's consent. Some medicine professors apparently even commented "if we had to get consent from patients for that we'd get nobody" and pressured trainees into doing this "otherwise you'll never learn".

There was definitely a period in my life when the answer would have been "hell no!," but with the mellowing of age and the realization that I have professionally benefited from others willing to be my "guinea pigs" in non-medical things I probably would say "oh, fine" now. As long as there wasn't a parade of 10 med students wanting to give it a try.

I know what I'm going to describe is not a big deal so all those who usually get defensive for medical professionals please know that I'm not trying to poke the bear.

I had elbow surgery recently and refused versed based on previous experience. (The anesthesiologist actually agreed with me and told me there is recent research that versed slows recovery) I was in the pre-op area of a busy out patient surgery center, dressed in the usual, hair net, gown compression stockings and hospital socks, I was given demerol and ketamine for the brachial plexus block, even though I was 'way out there' I remember the pain of the poke into the nerve.

I had met most of the nurses and doctors that would be invlovled in the surgery, but when I was wheeled into the operating room, there was a female tech or nurse or doctor who's role I did not know because I did not meet her before. Anyway, I was in a fog from the narcotics but I remember everything until the propofol since I did not have versed. She asked me to transfer to the surgery table and after I laid down she began to strap down my legs and torso, as I watched the anesthesiologist put antibiotics in the line (I asked what it was because it was clear and obviously not propofol) the woman straping me down ran her and directly across my genitals.... Yes is may have been completely innocent and unintended, however she had no way of knowing I refused the versed and would remember it... So on the one hand I can't help wondering if that touch was intentional and if so did she think I wouldn't remember it OR it was completely unintended and no one would do something like that in front of all the people present and risk their career.

Unlike the medical worker defenders in the group, I think people are human and not always so innocent, except when they are. 😉

Cheers.

Straps go straight across the table, so if your genitals were aligned with the straps when you laid down, that's just the way it was when you positioned yourself on the table.

I could say more but I won't.

I could say more but I won't.

Wow Susie, thanks for the quick reply (and for not saying more 😉 )

She threw a sheet or blanket over me and was smoothing it out...that's when the genital contact took place.

It felt like the straps were higher over my abdomen and torso... Not sure if I heard correctly what sounded like velcro Are they velcro? Do they crisscross or go straight across? It felt like crisscross.

Not trying to sound over sensitive... Just my personal observations...

Thanks

Agracier, Susie: Unsure about "copycats", but instructions advising students to give rectal and vaginal exams in OR (repeat, we're not discussing medically needed exams) were in teaching material. The universities tried to excuse themselves that it was "old teaching material" but it indicates these acts were routine.

Those blocks hurt quite a bit at first, but within about 10 seconds the anesthetic kicks in and you don't feel much.

Odd, when I had my surgeries on limbs (knee, foot, hand) they let me wear my underpants. No undershirt, obviously, just in case. I was thinking they'd make me take them off for the knee because it was closer, but they let me wear 'em.

I was allowed to wear leg wraps and my foot brace at my gyn surgery - my doctor said they would be draped anyway, so it was okay.

Those blocks hurt quite a bit at first, but within about 10 seconds the anesthetic kicks in and you don't feel much.

Odd, when I had my surgeries on limbs (knee, foot, hand) they let me wear my underpants. No undershirt, obviously, just in case. I was thinking they'd make me take them off for the knee because it was closer, but they let me wear 'em.

I was as high as a kite, at one point during the block insertion it felt like the nerve was poked, my whole body went rigid and I moaned, out loud I think. This was the first surgery I was awake for the trip on narcotics since they waited about 40 minites for the block to fully kick in before I was taken into the OR. I didn't like it I just felt like I drank waaay too much.

No such luck, I had to be naked... No idea why (other threads have beat this question to death) but the nurse did help me put on the stylish compression stockings and hospital socks. During other surgeries I've had... I was expected to do that myself.

It's interesting that the same woman who's hand went across my genitals said, while wheeling me past other patients to the OR, "Let me fix your blanket, we don't want you giving a free show to everyone... And I'm not paying."

Cute, but not the most professional comment.

I’m not a doctor, but it all sounds clinical to me. It’s something I’d like to experience as well, as the patient, or as an observer like your friend.