Latex Exam Gloves -- Optional/Required? For what? And when?

I've come across some anecdotes from people who believe they had suffered medical abuse. In some cases, particularly when it comes to genital exams, and particularly with children/pediatric settings, I've seen the statement that “if you were examined by the doctor and he didn't wear any gloves than that's definitely abuse!”

These days, certainly, it would be shocking for a doctor to do almost anything physical with a patient without gloves.

But it hasn't always been so. Originally, gloves were used to protect doctors and nurses from being contaminated. Or so I read. So, some questions…

• Are gloves mandatory today? By law? Or simply proper medical practice?
• When did they become mandatory?
• Do you remember times when you were examined by a doctor without gloves for some/most/all of your exam? As an adult or child? How long ago was this?

I am simply curious to know, at what point did not wearing exam gloves while doing only an external examination of genitalia become a clear indicator of misbehavior?

I've come across some anecdotes from people who believe they had suffered medical abuse. In some cases, particularly when it comes to genital exams, and particularly with children/pediatric settings, I've seen the statement that “if you were examined by the doctor and he didn't wear any gloves than that's definitely abuse!”

I haven't specifically heard that statement, nor would I hold that up as correct. I've been examined both with and without gloves, and, so long as the exam is strictly external, there isn't anything particularly wrong with not using gloves.

Most modern medical professionals, for exams, will chose to wear gloves, particularly for a an exam that covers parts of the body that are normally clothed, since it does, provide better contact-spread protection. At the end of the day, you're considerably less likely to transmit any sort of … well, anything … by using fresh gloves for each patient. Combine that with handwashing (which is and always has/should've been mandatory), and you make yourself about as clean as is reasonably possible. That's good not only for you, but out of respect for patients.

That being said, I know some prefer not to to allow for a more … human touch I guess.

At my most recent first aider refresher training we were told to always wear gloves ( nitrile these days not latex due to allergy implications ) before even touching a casualty over clothing, seems over cautious to me,

At my most recent first aider refresher training we were told to always wear gloves ( nitrile these days not latex due to allergy implications ) before even touching a casualty over clothing, seems over cautious to me,

@YOLO I have been a first aider for over 35 years (currently lapsed), and we were only ever told to put gloves on if there was a possibility of contact with “bodily fluids” or very dirty clothes (we did a lot of sports events). I wonder whether the latest advise is down to the possibility of COVID being on clothing if the person has it but is asymptomatic.

@YOLO I have been a first aider for over 35 years (currently lapsed), and we were only ever told to put gloves on if there was a possibility of contact with “bodily fluids” or very dirty clothes (we did a lot of sports events). I wonder whether the latest advise is down to the possibility of COVID being on clothing if the person has it but is asymptomatic.

I don't think its related to the dystopian nightmare of C19 restrictions, rather my employer over reacting to the wrong things as usual

Firstly Gloves are definitely mandatory in maxillo-facial, dental and hospital settings particularly where close contact with skin and any ‘internal’ structures is involved (and this preceded covid by many years. It not only protected operators but was an important part of cross-infection control. BUT sorry not latex. Latex allergy is a such a major concern that Nitrile gloves have largely taken over in the UK wherever possible although there are cost implications.

My doctor would examine my head and do the stethoscope exams without gloves and would put them on when I would lay down for the stomach, abdominal, and genital exams. That was before COVID anyways. I can’t rememebr if he had them on for everything once COVID started but I wouldn’t have been surprised if he did. I also don’t know if they were latex gloves or not but I would assume not since some people have latex allergies and there’s really no reason to risk it.

I was once told by my girlfriend that her gynecologist inserted an ungloved finger into her vagina to feel around for any abnormalities. This was when she was around 17, every other time she has used gloves

I had a consultant orthodontist who used to examine my mouth/teeth without gloves. It would have been about 17 years ago now I think. At the time I felt it was inappropriate and a bit of a violation - not in an abusive way, but in the way of an arrogant professional who thinks because he's the clever professional he can rake around in my mouth without gloves if he likes and doesn't consider how the patient might feel about it.

I don't have anything of great interest to offer on the questions posed, but as a layperson I do feel that a genital exam needs gloves largely to create more of a sense of professional distance in what is otherwise an intimate area. Not that I'd mind it being done to me without gloves by a guy, but that's fetish talking!

I had a consultant orthodontist who used to examine my mouth/teeth without gloves. It would have been about 17 years ago now I think. At the time I felt it was inappropriate and a bit of a violation - not in an abusive way, but in the way of an arrogant professional who thinks because he's the clever professional he can rake around in my mouth without gloves if he likes and doesn't consider how the patient might feel about it.

If a dentist put their fingers in or near my mouth without wearing gloves, I would be out of there so fast they wouldn’t have a chance to say bye. That’s disgusting and unprofessional, and not to mention diseases could be passed from one patient to another that way.

@Young_Patient back in the 60’s three different dentists I saw all just washed their hands (thoroughly) and put their fingers in my mouth ungloved. It wasn’t until some time in the early ‘70’s that they switched to wearing gloves.

Not sure what the law reads but, my current female physician does not wear gloves except to draw blood or when completing the genital exam. For the remainder of the physical exam, no gloves and I am fine with it

These days (in the days of HIV and Covid), gloves should be worn whenever one might be in contact with bodily fluids (oral, dental, vaginal, rectal, genital, blood drawing, wound care, etc). During the rest of an exam, they are optional. And, as been previously pointed out, due to allergy concerns, these days most gloves are nitrile or plastic.

Definitely should be required.