I had a very memorable experience of being fully naked for an exam.
Working in Thailand I needed to book my annual medical exam as required by my company. Chinese New Year was approaching and I did not have anything planned so checked with the hospital and yes they could do a health screening.
I turned up early at the “Wellness Centre” and discovered two things, 1) it was very quiet and I was the only person there, and 2) the young Thai lady at the reception counter was dressed in a traditional Chinese qipao dress. It was red, tight, with a slit high up the side. She looked stunning! Anyway, I was sent off to do all the routine tests, blood, urine, ECG, x-ray etc., then returned for the doctor’s exam.
I was still the only one there and the young lady quickly escorted me into the doctor’s office and stayed to assist. I can only assume she was a regular nurse and the private hospital had wanted to get into the spirit of CNY and decided to make the Wellness Centre more customer friendly by dressing the staff in traditional Chinese dress!
The doctor was a gruff old guy and he asked me to strip down to my underpants for the physical exam. The “nurse” stood close to me with the enigmatic Thai smile on her face and put out her hand to take my clothes. Now this was a bizarre situation. If she had been dressed as a nurse it wouldn’t have seemed strange, but with the tight qipao dress? As I undressed she watched and patiently took my clothes and hung them up.
In my underpants I sat on the examination table and the doctor went through the standard exam, eyes, ears, stethoscope, reflexes…. while the beautiful Thai girl in her tight red dress stood watching intently. After he had finished he checked the computer then came the ominous words… I see you have just turned 40, so I need to do a prostrate check. Please remove your underpants.
I turned to see my nurse approach me with her hand held out to take my underpants. Now I didn’t know what was going on, my mind was racing. With this beautiful girl in her tight red dress waiting for me to get naked, was I in a Bangkok hospital or a Chinese bordello? I removed my last item protecting my dignity and handed it to the nurse.
Attempting to not to embarrass myself, I focused my attention on the stern old doctor and lay on my side on the examination table and the doctor, assisted by lubrication gel supplied by the nurse, inserted his gloved finger. When he was done I looked around and saw my Suzie Wong standing next to me with a tissue box in her hand so I could wipe off the gel. I then got down naked from the table and dressed as she, still watching intently and still with her enigmatic smile, handed me back my clothes item by item.
I have to thank the hospital for one of the most surreal experiences of my life.