Hello I (f, 24) presented at the hospital following a call with a nurse. During my visit to ER, they found a probable heart condition while performing an ECG. When I was in the room (door, not curtains), my doctor, male, was commenting on my tattoos & about how nice they are. He commented quite a bit about them. Anyways, he was using his stethoscope after telling me what they saw on the ECG’s. I was laying down & he pulled my shirt up, pulling off one of the ECG tags (under my left breast) saying it was in his way. He proceeded to lift my bra as well & I had my hand on my chest to prevent my boobs from being exposed. He did not tell me prior why he was lifting my shirt or ask for consent. He then told me to sit up & said, “any cool artwork under here?” As he lifted my shirt up from the back & continued to use his stethoscope.
I’ve had 2 other ECG’s & have had a stethoscope used routinely. I’ve never had a doctor physically raise my shirt in the manner he did. I am just wondering if this is okay behaviour or not? He made numerous comments of my tattoos, including the ones on my torso. He said one of my other pieces is very well done & traced his finger around it (on my upper arm).
If it matters, I am in Canada. Thank you for any input. I apologize if this is the wrong sub to post in. Just would like a perceptive check as well. Thank you again.
Comments
Yeah this isn’t okay. Usually u ask for consent and explain for eg “is it ok if I lift your shirt” or “im just gonna have to lift your shirt is that okay” or they can ask you to do it. I am sure of this btww
No doctor should make traces on your skin or make inappropriate comments, that was not related to your care. So, you should report it. Also that bra thing, weird.
I think you know this is not ok. Here in Canada, the only time “implied consent” is a thing is if you’re unconscious and medical staff/firefighters need to rip your clothes off to save your life.
You can report harassment under OHSA rules to the hospital and if they don’t outright let him go, at the very least he’ll be flagged to have a witness in the room for all female patients.
Not okay. I’ve had some health problems recently and had a few different procedures (including an ECG). Anything involving your body (touching or looking) they ALWAYS ask consent and they would always use the privacy curtains any time I would be exposing myself (even just lifting my shirt, and I’m a man).
He is disgusting, please report him!
Whenever we do anything, patients have to have informed consent. Such as, I need to get to this lead, is it okay if we just raise your shirt here? This applies to everyone, every patient not matter what, yes babies, elderly, memory support wards, absolutely everyone.
Definitely not ok, you were in a vulnerable state and that doctor took advantage. They should either be asking you to lift your shirt if you can, asking if they can lift it and telling you why it needs lifting. You should raise this further.
Nope nope nope, no medical professional should be “tracing” or running their fingers on you. That’s unacceptable.
Almost every doctor both male and female has asked me before moving or lifting my shirt. Only once recently did a male doctor not ask beforehand. He had me change into a dressing gown beforehand and mid scan (an echo scan for my heart with an ultrasound machine) he undid the tie and opened the front without warning or asking. I understand he needed access but they should always let you know what’s happening before doing so.
In this instance I gave him the benefit of the doubt, I was one of his last patients and he looked exhausted and was very kind and nice otherwise.
Edited to fix typos and to also add: I’ve had many ECG’s lately too and half of them only lifted my shit and then stuck their hand under it to listen in and stick stickers on, and only AFTER letting me know beforehand. There’s no reason to lift your shirt and look for more than to just find the right spots to stick the stickers and place the stethoscope.
Under no circumstance is tracing your skin acceptable at all unless they’re testing your nerves/feeling in different areas, but that’s obviously not what was happening with you. My problems was causing tingling and numbness in my arm and legs so they touched my hand and toes to check but even that was more so grabbing and squeezing and not tracing.
In my experience, er docs can be a bit too “straightforward” in comparison to a docs who works with appointments, I find their bedside manners are usually worse but that’s no excuse.
I don’t think thats ok behavior specially tracing your tatoo with his fingers, which had nothing to do with the examination he was performing.
So, I’m playing devil’s advocate here because a lot of people seem to be blowing this out of proportion.
You specifically mentioned the ER, which sees very different patients than a usual doctor.
They’re used to ripping people’s clothes off in emergencies. They see people naked all the time.
I think this was a case of him not thinking how weird this is to someone who isn’t about to die. He was just appreciating your tattoos while doing something incredibly routine to him.
I had an ECG done by a female doctor and she basically did the same thing.
Don’t report the poor dude. They have it so rough already. My grandma will never let it go about how her favorite sweater got cut off of her in ER.
He might be strange (like all ER doctors are tbh) but he clearly had no ill intent.
This is weird. You should always ask for a chaperone when being assessed by a male provider.
I have an ECG once a year and a boob almost always makes a brief appearance, so that part I’d say is pretty standard. A doctor finger-tracing a young lady’s tattoos when they’re already in a pretty vulnerable position is shitty “read the room” at best. I bet they’re so desensitized from touching people all day we’re just meat.
I don’t think it’s okay. But at the same time I don’t think he’s a weirdo. I honestly think he was just interested in the tattoos so much he just didn’t remember basic manners. Doctors are pretty desensitized to the human body, especially ER ones so idk. He was probably just trying to make conversation whilst doing a task that is awkward for you and mundane for him.