Bad examination.
We give some broad guidance on a very difficult but not uncommon situation.
"I went to see my doctor about a pain in my stomach, that went on for over two weeks. My doctor asked if he could examine me. I thought nothing of it as this is what I thought would happen.
The doctor asked me to lay on the examination couch behind some vertical blinds. He put on some rubber gloves. He asked me to expose my abdomen, which I did. He felt several areas of my abdomen. The lower part was tender, but he did not cause me pain.
Then he asked if he could examine my vagina because it could be urinary infection. Like most women I felt a bit uncomfortable with it but I said yes, because the pain was going on too long. I saw him put something on the glove and he then put his fingers inside of me. I felt some discomfort but no pain. Unusually, I felt my clitoris being rubbed. This was an awkward situation. I began to become sexually aroused. I did not know quite what to do or say. He moved his fingers inside me but continued to rub me. I felt embarassed. This seemed like quite a long time but it was probably about half a minute. As I was becoming too aroused I decided to wince in pain - and ask him to stop. He delayed a few seconds more, then I pretended to be in more pain. Then the examination stopped. He then used some wet tissue paper to wipe my private. I did not really want this.
He told me it was probably a urinary infection and prescribed some antibiotics. After I left I thought about this. I realised there was no one else in the room. I felt abused. I feel like making a complaint but I am worried I'd look like a fool. I don't reallly want to be responsible for the doctor losing his job, he could have done this accidentally. I'm also worried about all this reaching the newspapers."
Our response:
From what you describe it is unlikely that the degree of sexual arousal you experienced was accidental. Most doctors are trained to do these examinations without causing sexual stimulation. It is also of some concern that the doctor carried out such an examination without a chaperone present.
This is a very difficult and not uncommon situation. It is important to decide whether you felt abused or inappropriately touched.
If the answer is yes, you need to decide whether and why you wish to complain.
Then you need to decide who to complain to.
Assuming that a complaint is to be made to following are some broad options with comments:
- Complaint to the doctor - this is unlikley to get very far.
- Complain to the doctor's employers - this is more likely to bring about an investigation.
- Complain to the doctor's regulatory body i.e. Medical Board or the likes of the General Medical Council - this will bring about an investigation which may be referred back to the employers and the process could take about 3 years to get going - unless it is fast-tracked.
- Report the doctor to the police - this is likely to bring a swift response if the allegation is about indecent sexual assault.
Only you can decide which way you want to go with a complaint.
If you decide to complain you should write down in extreme detail what went on, and how you felt. So far you have give quite a good description. We admire your courage.
Any complaint you make must be referenced against medical standards of conduct. How would you find that? A good place to start will be with the Medical Regulator (i.e. GMC or Medical Board).
Media publicity is something that is extremely difficult to manage or predict. It is important to balance all that against the risk you may consider, that this doctor could possibly be sexually abusing other women. If or when you make your complaint, ensure that you specifically request no publicity and that your name be kept from the public domain.
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