Medical professionals are often some of the most trustworthy individuals. So much in fact, people entrust their lives, health, and well-being to medical professionals. Sadly, not all medical professionals are trustworthy. One woman found this out after having an unnecessary breast exam. Understandably, she wanted to share her experience with others, seemingly to prevent them from having a similar experience.
A Hematology Referral
K.Page Stuart Valdes had a health scare that was baffling to many. She’d had a cryptogenic stroke and her neurologist referred her to a hematology-oncology practice to ensure the stroke hadn’t been the result of a blood disease. However, her visit made her uncomfortable and she questioned the process, opting to do some research on the situation.
Read More: Longevity Doctor Takes 3 Supplements to Improve His Sleep
Standard Morphs into Strange
Her visit began the same as they often do. She was asked several questions regarding her medical history and what events brought her in. What started as a seemingly standard exchange soon took a bizarre turn. Firstly, she explained the events of her stroke. “At 5:45 p.m. I got up from the couch to get dressed to meet a friend for dinner. As I was pulling my jeans over my knees, my body buckled underneath me and I tumbled to the floor. I tried to reach for the edge of the bed, but I felt like I was underneath a 400-pound bag of sand. Then — ” she had told the doctor. However, he cut her off to share a story, that was seemingly unrelated and unprofessional.
“He stopped typing, spun his chair around, and looked me straight in the eye for the first time.” She wrote, adding that he asked: “So you were lying on the floor with no shirt on and your pants pulled down? That’s pretty funny. Can I tell you a funny story about being caught with your pants down?”
A Bizarre Story Unfolds
“I wanted to say: “What is wrong with you? Do I need to remind you that you are not at an f-in’ keg party?” But it didn’t seem like that would inspire him to help me.” Valdes explained.
“My father is a bigwig lawyer, and he and my mother get invited to a lot of galas,” the doctor continued. “My mother got into the limo wearing nothing but her fur coat because she didn’t want to wrinkle her gown. As she was slipping into it, the valet opened the door and saw her half-naked! We all say he must have thought my father was trying to cop a feel. Isn’t that hilarious?” She replied: “Comedy gold” before the doctor continued his questions.
Feelings of Confusion
Next, he told her she would need a physical exam, then “whispered something in [the nurse’s] ear.” The nurse informed her she would need to remove her shirt and gave her a gown, telling her to leave it open in the front. Alarm bells began to ring for Valdes, who wasn’t clear on why a hematologist would need to do a breast exam. She then asked the nurse if this was standard procedure. However, “she shrugged, handed me the gown, and left the room,” according to Valdes. “He let me know that the most compelling part of my medical trauma, for him, is the fact that I was half-naked when it happened, I thought.”
Read More: Doctor Shares 5 ‘Red Flag’ Signs of Cancer To Look Out For
Confusion Leads to Distress
Nevertheless, she took the gown and prepared for the exam. After, she felt violated, still wondering if that was necessary for her exam. He told her to get her blood work done with the nurse. “When I was in the chemo suite getting my blood drawn, it was easier to stare at the cancer patients than it was to think about why the doctor pictured me naked, talked about his mother naked, and then touched my breasts,” Valdes wrote. “Even though that exam didn’t appear to be medically necessary or appropriate to my condition. It was easier to be distracted with the treatment of others than to think about my own.”
Researching Her Experience
The exam sat with her through getting her blood drawn and going home. As a result, she got online to do some research. “I searched the internet for any evidence that there was a medical reason for a hematologist-oncologist to perform a breast exam.” She shared. The search results astounded her as she found evidence that her breast exam wasn’t standard procedure.
“Hematologic malignancies differ from other types of cancer because they develop in the body’s blood cells and may not form tumors. While some hematologic oncologists have expertise in treating solid tumors, most do not treat operable cancers such as breast cancer or lung cancer,” was written by the president of medicine and science at the City of Hope Cancer Center, Dr.Maurie Markman. She did more research and found that the hematologist had also not followed “the four pillars of medical ethics.”
Explaining Her Findings
“One way that physicians can determine if they’re acting with beneficence is to ask whether an option and its outcomes are in line with a patient’s expectations of treatment.” She wrote, concluding: “Since I was referred by a neurologist for blood testing after a stroke, the answer to that question, as it relates to performing a breast exam, would definitely be “no”.”
Patient Rights
Understandably, the experience made her question how trustworthy doctors are. While most doctors are trustworthy, some aren’t and it’s important to know your rights as a patient to avoid being in a similar situation. First and foremost, consent is key. If something a doctor suggests makes you uneasy, it’s your right to understand their reasoning or deny their recommendation. Alternatively, if you refuse their suggestion, get a second opinion. This way you’re not ignoring your health and well-being if an “untrustworthy” doctor has made you uncomfortable. Either way, patients are protected by countless national and statewide laws if they feel their rights have been violated.
Read More: Doctor Reveals 7 Health Conditions You Can Spot By Just Checking Your Nails
Sources
- “What is Hematology-Oncology?” Cancer Center.
- “My Doctor Gave Me A Strange Exam. I Researched It Later — And What I Learned Left Me Disgusted.” MSN K.Page Stuart Valdes.