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#Me Too Pelvic

Mar 02, 2020
by Caroline Miller
# Me Too Pelvic, Medical indifference to a woman's privacy, medical teaching practices, pelvic exams without consent
4 Comments

Courtesy of wikipedia.com

When I entered college at 18, I joined the rest of my female classmates in the gym. There, we were asked to strip off our tops, given medial gowns and told to lie down on an available cot. We received no further explanation.  

Not long after we’d settle, a number of young men in white coats entered the room, medical interns, as it turns out, who were led by a  supervising physician.  They followed their instructor from cot to cot and each coed was ordered to open her gown to allow the interns to perform breast exams. Too shocked to say anything, I and the rest of my classmates submitted to these gropings in silence.

To this day, I’ve never forgotten my humiliation. Like a lab rat, my privacy was discounted and without my consent, it was sacrificed upon the altar of medical instruction.   

Now, after the passage of many years, I’ve learned of another long-standing medical abuse, one to which I and countless other women may have been subjected. While sedated and lying on a hospital table awaiting surgery, a woman may receive an unnecessary pelvic exam. The excuse, once again, is that interns need hands-on experience.

One woman learned of the practice prior to her operation and objected. The hospital’s response was to tell her she was free to seek medical attention elsewhere.    

As women become conscious of this longstanding disrespect for their personal privacy, they are raising their voices. The hashtag #Me Too Pelvic was born and already eleven states have passed laws requiring advance consent before pelvic exams can be performed. Many more jurisdictions need to come on board.  Of note, this abuse falls particularly hard on low-income women. They are the ones most likely to depend upon teaching hospitals for their healthcare.

 

Special Announcement to readers: As of today, this blog will be published Monday, Wednesday and Friday, rather the 5 days a week.  After nearly 10 years, I’m slowing down a little.

 

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4 Comments
  1. Betsy Cameron March 2, 2020 at 10:22 am Reply
    Unbelievable abusive tolerated by such hospitals and college workers by someone in charge. Your new schedule makes so much sense by you, the woman in charge!
    • Caroline Miller March 2, 2020 at 11:59 am Reply
      Thought I'd give the blog readers a little rest, too. :)
  2. Emily McKinnon March 3, 2020 at 5:14 am Reply
    I have always been amazed by your daily productivity. Thank you for 10 years of Tuesdays and Thursdays. :)
    • Caroline Miller March 3, 2020 at 8:15 am Reply
      Thank you Emily for sticking with me so long. Not going anywhere, of course. Just slowing down. Stay with me. I have a few more good years, I hope.

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Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Portland, Oregon author Caroline Miller had distinguished careers as an educator, union president, elected official and artist/advocate.

Her play, Woman on the Scarlet Beast, was performed at the Post5 Theatre, Portland, OR, January/February 2015

Caroline published a serialized novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, on the website, The Colored Lens.  She also published the story Gustav Pavel,  a parable about ordinary lives, choice and alternate potential, on the website Fixional.co.

Caroline has published four novels

  • Ballet Noir
  • Trompe l’Oeil
  • Gothic Spring
  • Heart Land

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