Medical examinations for school and university

[quote author=christina280172 link=topic=17747.msg352381#msg352381 date=1304457336]

Yes, what you are telling is making a lot of sense. But i also think that these school and university doctors did not care. They had no respect for students, would do everything without explaining, could make embarassing comments about your weight; etc; etc.... Christina

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I don't agree with you. I've had exams at school and none of them have been - how can I say - uncomfortable because of doctors. According to my experience doctors have always had respect for 'patients' and they've always told with lots of details why is it important to examine in such way they have done.

In CZ in not compulsory on many schools.

I know growing up in New York state, in my school when you were in grade 6th, the girls only were called in for an assembly and what I was told, it was an assembly that they introduced girls about "puberty" and getting there periods.

The boys, were called down to the nurses office. We had to take off our shoes. Shirt and pants and stand in our underwear. The nurse would weigh us and take our height. Then we went behind a curtain and the school doctor would be there sitting in a chair. He would listen to your heart. Check your eyes, nose and throat. He would then remove your underwear. Have you spread your legs, he would examine your penis and while another nurse would take notes. Then the exam was completed. You put back on your undies and got dressed.

This same exact exam took place again in High School in 10th grade.

Funny, we had a nurse come through on occasion checking our hair but I never knew what it was for until years later. I understand that if a few kids in the school were found with head lice they would go around and check everyone. My mother said they were checking us for "bugs" but I really didn't think she was serious. To me bugs were big things you could see flying or crawling around not something that could hide in your hair.

I remember going in for sport exams (at school) when I was in middle school. The girls were in one line, the boys were in another. I remember hearing the boys coughing from behind the "boys curtain" and there was a kid in front of me who said something to the effect of, "I don't want him touching my junk!" Lol! Being in the girls line, I remember having to bend over and the doctor lifted up my shirt and checked my spine. Kind of skeeved me out especially since the doctor was way old and had the hands to match.

To this day I wonder if that was standard protocol so to speak...

I never had any sort of exam in school, except for once in a while lice checks; which was quite pointless anyway. We were "supposed to" go see a doctor for exams on our own, which i never did.

School exams were only in the early grades maybe ending around fifth grade. they were quick stethoscope checks and a loosen the belt and pull the underwear forward to look down and give a cough

At the private schoolsI went to, we had these exams all the way up to the junior year of HS.

Pretty much what drdeecleveland said below, stethoscope, oral temperature and turnyourheadandcough.

I remember being deathly afraid of them in my HS years after I'd learn to masturbate. I was worried that somehow the doctor could tell and would inform the school (religious school, y'know).

Hey, I was a kid, what did I know???

>😄

[quote author=cast iron widow link=topic=4822.msg304590#msg304590 date=1279786006]

Well, yes, in theory you can. But you'd need to ask yourself why you would want to, and what the risks versus benefits would be. One assumes that the reason a doctor's consult is required is because either you had a health issue of some sort and required treatment, or something of a preventative nature. It's equally fair enough to assume that unless one holds a medical degree, your doctor knows a fair bit more about these sort of things than you do, and it would perhaps be prudent to heed his or her advice. You know, occasionally on here I hear things that make make my jaw drop. The above quote is certainly one of them! Just how rude and with an inflated sense of self importance is it possible for a person to be? Firstly, "doctors aren't anyone special". Hrm. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by the termv'special', but I do know that doctors are humans doing a difficult job that the vast majority of the population couldn't even begin to do, let alone do well. That makes them pretty special in my book, and thus worthy of respect, and not the dismissive 'I know better than you' opinion you appear to exhibit. Secondly, you can in no way compare the skills of a veterinarian and a doctor. One job is not more important than the other; the skills required for each are different and yet equally valid. Veterinarians are not 'failed' doctors, accepting their lot very much as second best. For heavens sake, both professions require a totally different 7 year degree! If this is your attitude, than frankly I feel sorry for the doctors or vets who have the fortunes to meet you. Honestly, sometimes I despair.... #smlt#walks away shaking head#smgt#

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Adding to this, I'd like to say that while young, aside from having a fascination about medical things and becoming excited about them in a sexual way, I also had an 'attitude' towards doctors that was not always beneficial to myself in the long run.

I too often thought I knew better than a medical professional, was very concerned about my physical integrity and about being touched or examined (which was also somewhat contradictory considering some of my fantasies).

In the end, my know-it-all attitude ended up costing me a lung, because I refused to listen to not one, but several doctors' advice. My perceived dignity was intact but eventually I ended up on an operating table after an emergency admission.

So I wonder if the present day mood of presumption of maliciousness and the eagerness to litigate against perceived indignities by medical personnel is really such an advantageous stance, medically speaking. So one's sense of prudishness remains inviolate and you've been able to put a trained physician down. It may give you a sense of empowerment but it is not always a wise way to approach medical problems.

School physicals were done by the family physician. When I turned 13 my parents waited outside when the doctor called me alone in to the exam room and had me strip to my shorts. I remember him making a comment on my hairy legs and then before you know it I was asked to completely undress and was given a small sheet to cover my mid-section. He did most of the balance of the exam under the sheet with my hands over my head and behind my neck. I was only briefly exposed totally, and was asked to stand for the balance of the exam, now completely undressed. The same process continued until around age 17 when I was given an exam gown and was asked to completely undress...

I remember very vaguely being given an examination by a female doctor when I was in primary school. It was quite through from what I remember although that was almost 20 years ago, perhaps more. I don't ever remember being given an exam in High School, though we did get vaccinations and I remember being seen by a dentist on a couple of occasions.

I was 13 years old and the doctor had me remove everything except my underwear. I had an erection already before he started the exam. Mom was in the room, which made it worse. Then I had to remove my underwear as he checked out my penis, he then had me get on the exam table on my back with my knees bent as he put a finger into my rectum. Mom watches everything. I never had a physical like this before. Is this normal.

I got physicals every year, but at the pediatrician, not at school. Never knew anyone that had one in school, either. When I was younger I was terrified of shots, and I remember even in like 1st grade worrying about getting a shot in school, so I must have seen school physicals on television or something. Not sure where else I would have gotten the idea...

Belgium for sure !

I know at least one State that still requires mandatory school comprehensive physical exams at ages 6,10,13, and 16. All seem to require annual "pre-participation physical exams" or sports physicals to be involved in any after-school sport activity. They usually involve assessment of physical abilities such as range of motion, co-ordination, fitness, sexual maturity, age-appropriate development of breasts, pubic hair, testicular volume, hernia. Not a very effective screening nor a comprehensive physical examinatioon. Most girls are encouraged to have their first pelvic exams between 13-15, after menarche, and before becoming sexually active. I had generally good health and insurance to pay for physicals every 2-3 years most of my life. Still not at all sure I will make it to my life expectancy of 83. And based on what 80 year olds I have seen, not sure I want to.

At school we would basically have the dentist once a year, besides that I remember that we went to the school doctor in 8th grade to get some shots w/out any physical. Nevertheless, one would have to undergo checkups for sports classes, swimming etc. As I was in a swimming club I remember being examined (lungs volume, basic palpation) at some doctor near to the swimming facilities in which the club was located. I also recall that I was there with my underpants and two girls were present, in their briefs but with their shirts on, so it was not a big deal for neither of us. When I went to my pediatrician for another exam related to swimming classes I can remember vividly that first everything started normal, e.g. I had to lie down in my underpants, he would check the heartbeat, the ears, lung volume etc, quite standard. At the end of the exam (unexpected and I think embarrassing for that reason) while lying on my back he asked my to lift my butt,reached out for my underpants and pulled them down. I remember being shocked and kind of embarrassed (not that the doctor hadn't seen me naked before, the thing was that it happened unexpectedly and I felt somehow humiliated. He performed a testicular and hernia exam before I was allowed to dress again.

I personally do not remember that the medical examination at school we had to strip naked, but willingly przeżyłbym something personally😉 At the school nurse. For me it looked that the school investigated the importance of vision and growth, and after a detailed study was getting a referral to the appropriate doctors, there is of course already look different, and certainly more interesting😃

I never had to have an exam at school, just went to the pediatrician every year. There was one time I remember, I was maybe 6 or 7, I was down to my briefs, as was standard operating procedure for my exams as a kid, the nurse wanted to get my weight but the scale was down the hallway. I was trotted down to the scale in my undies where I had to wait my turn behind this little girl getting weighed. At the time I really didn't think anything of it. Neither of us seemed to be embarrassed.

My only school medical exam went no further than the doctor taking a quick look under ours tops and down our knickers, but because we didnt know beforehand, all subsequent school exams were always accompanied by the concern such a thing may happen again.

In practice this never happened, but as we were older and more body aware and werent ever told what to expect, such a repeat exam would be so much more embarrassing yet very memorable.

Around 7 th grade when i was around 12 thats when they started doing them in groups usaualy four at a time in the room all of us undressed down to our underwear, the exam was done in the center of the room in full view of the other students, me being uncut in a school where the majroity of students where cut was a very embarrising exp the school doctor always retracted my foresking in full view of the other students at 12 some of us where just reaching puberty and to have to expose yourself at that age was not fun,

In my hometown located in upstate New York in the 80's everyone was required to have a physical. I remember in middle school (I guess around the age of 12/13) was the first time. I think it was in 8th grade

All the girls would go into the auditorium for some lecture (I later found out it was a movie they watched about getting there periods) and the boys were called down in alphabetical order to the nurses office. Once in the nurses office, the school nurse would tell us to get into our undies, then she would weigh and take your height and then we would be instructed one at a time to go behind this screen. The doctor and another nurse was waiting.

He would listen to your heart, check your throat, and feel your lymphnodes and check your eyes. Then the nurse would come around and take her fingers and lower your undies and she would instruct you to spread your feet. She would be behind you holding you and your arms as the doctor would feel your testicles and feel your penis and have you cough. For me I would get an erection, he would touch me just enough that I didn't cum.

My normal regular doctor would take more time examining and touching that I would get the erection and then cum, but I guess the doctor in school had to do it quickly since time was a factor.

Then in High School was the same exam, but in 10th grade this time with the same doc and nurse behind the screen. This time he would do the same exam but you had to bend over and he would inspect your spine.

Sports physicals were offered to all athletes on one particular day at our school. All the athletes got into their typical "gym" clothes and waited around in the gym area. You were then called in. The "office" was set up in the locker room area of our school so it was make-shift with privacy screens, etc. There was a nurse who took your height, weight & basic vitals. Then you moved on to the doctor. He did a standard exam - concluding with the typical drop pants/turn head and cough test. It was nerve-wracking waiting around with all your friends and having them in the vicinity during the exam

My schooling began in 1955. I don't recall ever having a school physical through my senior year in h.s. I did see a speech therapist routinely in elementary school. We had a mass inoculation program for polio in elementary. My childhood shots were given by the local health department. The lines were horribly long.

I remember getting a very brief physical in elementary school. Everyone would get in line in the library and you would go from one nurse to the next and each would do something different. Just exam of the mouth scoliosis, hair, don't remember anything else.

When I started high school in Italy I have to undergo a very through exam at the sport medicine center of my town. A part of the exam was private and an other with other classmates of the same gender. They also conduct a genital exam.

I remember undressing to my underwear (tighty whities at the time), and waiting to be called behind the screen. Once called back, the doctor would perform the usual exam, followed by a quick hernia check.

[quote author=StandForMorals link=topic=5128.msg374116#msg374116 date=1312540837]

That's a complete load of hogwash! Are you telling me that unless a teenager removes their bra or underwear then they are at risk? What planet do you live on? These exams are ok if it is done by the same sex, but for a doctor of the opposite sex to do these kind of exams is just plain wrong.

StandForMorals

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Individually, the manner of conducting an exam may not matter much, but taken collectively and over a period of time, unless thorough exams are conducted, then statistically speaking, there cannot be anything but a deficiency in examining and diagnosing genital or breast related medical issues. There will be a serious deficiency in giving preventive care and/or treatments.

And there will also be a very serious lack of personal acquaintance with how medical care should be given. Pandering to prudery at an early age will only reinforce the tendency when one becomes older.

And as for having physicians of the same sex only conducting examinations. Well, now I could ask what planet you live on. Medical care is increasingly becoming staffed by females, all over the (civilized) world. Following those thoughts, then males would really have a hard time of it, getting proper care by physicians of their own gender only.

In the country where I live, in Belgium (and the same goes for other EU nations) a few years ago there were recurring problems with Muslim inhabitants who refused to be treated by doctors of the opposite gender. This often occurred in life threatening situations, where apparently, according to certain individuals, morals and prudery trumped medical considerations.

There are now specific laws enacted to prevent such kind of reverse discrimination against physicians and medical personnel. Refusal to be treated by a physician of the opposite gender is no longer acceptable nor condoned. And this goes for medical situations of any kind, be it in a trauma emergency ward or in a school medical examination.

Until proven otherwise, all medical personnel are considered to be competent and morally resilient enough to do their jobs and nothing more.

I think two issues are being combined and confused here: 1) consent for medical treatment 2) and the right to a medical professional of your choice (gender).

Consent- in the civilized world any Competent individual (definition of competent may vary from country to country) may refuse medical care or treatment for any reason. If a patient says no don't touch this or do that and the health care provider does it is usually a criminal offence called Battery. Where this gets tricky is finding where personal freedom ends and public safety begins for example schools may require a physical to ensure that someone is healthy and not posing a risk to other students or require proof of immunization status to register, in these cases courts look for balance, I think any country or area would have a difficult time justifying a mandatory genital examination for public safety if a patient refused.

medical professional gender- due to lack of resources and public nature of most European health care systems there is legislation stipulating that you will not always be able to have a health care professional of the gender of your choice. This legislation prevents patients from complaining about religious discrimination based on a medical professional of their choice not being available. However as per discussed above a competent person can always walk away or refuse sensitive procedures for any reason.

Think about it if someone can refuse treatment that will save their life; ie blood transfusions or cancer therapy or have a Do Not Resuscitate order in place they can sure as hell refuse a genital examination or to get naked for a health care provider

[quote author=bob1172 link=topic=5128.msg375342#msg375342 date=1313028490]

Think about it if someone can refuse treatment that will save their life; ie blood transfusions or cancer therapy or have a Do Not Resuscitate order in place they can sure as hell refuse a genital examination or to get naked for a health care provider

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Just to broaden the discussion a bit: what would happen if a military inductee refused to undergo a medical examination or parts of it?

I ask because I have no experience of this. However I doubt very much that a draftee will simply be allowed to walk away from his military medical exam just because of their personal feelings about nakedness.

I know the above has little to do with school exams as such, but I am just trying to point out that personal choice in medical matters is not always absolute. There are certainly occasions and situations where you simply have to obey those in authority above you, whether you like it or not. And while not every country still has obligatory military service, many countries still do or possibly a mixed form of national service of some kind.

I am curious what the requirements and obligations would be in those countries.

Agracier, It's inconceivable that someone would be allowed to walk away from a (compulsory) military service medical without there being consequences.

'National Service' as it was called here in the UK, ended in 1960. I have read quite a few articles, as well a couple of books, on the subject. I would think that anyone who had been summoned to report for medical examination for military service would take it as read that they would have to take off most, if not all, of their clothes during such an examination. It's therefore much more likely that if someone couldn't face the medical they wouldn't show up at all, and if they did show up and refused to submit to the exam, I'd imagine that would be treated in the same way as a 'no show' situation.

Certainly here, failing to report for military service (especially if it was in wartime) would be treated very seriously by the authorities and would attract a prison sentence.

From what I read, it seems nudity was (literally) the order of the day at National Servlce medicals in Britain. It only applied to men of course, and many former conscripts have spoken of being lined up naked in the presence of female nurses - the doctors were sometimes female, too.