I Feel that I was Violated by a Doctor
Posted , 9 users are following.
Sorry if this is out of place on the 'Depression' board but I wasn't sure where else to post it.
I work full-time as a model and was recently accepted by a high profile UK modelling agency. A few weeks ago, myself and a few of the other girls at my agency were hired by a company for a big shoot on location abroad. It was a 7 day trip and everything was paid for, including travel insurance, but we had to pass a mandatory physical before being cleared to go. I wasn’t bothered and I certainly wasn’t going to miss out on this opportunity just because of an inconvenience.
So I went to the doctor’s office that the insurance company had picked. Most of the appointment was fine, just the usual health questions, took my blood pressure, checked my ears, nose & throat etc. Then he asked me to take my top off, so he could check my heart and lungs. I was expecting this, so I didn’t hesitate.
But before he started, he told me to take my bra off as well. I was a little surprised since I didn’t think that was necessary. When I asked why, he said he would need to place the stethoscope under my left breast for a hearing at the apex. I felt uncomfortable but what he said sounded okay so I did it. First he put the scope above my heart and listened. I was already feeling a little weird when he then lifted my left breast with his hand and placed the scope below it. He didn’t even ask my permission to touch me! I was really nervous so my heart was racing, and I knew he could hear it, which felt quite embarrassing. Then he checked my lungs from the back and placed his hand on my shoulder while he listened, which felt a little weird as well. I didn’t like the amount of times he tried to make eye-contact either.
The worst part came next. He told me to raise my arm so he could give me a clinical breast exam. I was pretty shocked since I hadn’t raised any such concerns. I said that I hadn’t noticed anything unusual in that area but he said, in no uncertain terms, that it was compulsory for the physical. He then examined both my breasts – WITHOUT gloves on. I must have been topless for almost 10 minutes in total before he let me put my clothes back on and finished the appointment.
I know this may sound like I’m overreacting, but I genuinely felt violated. When I asked some of the other girls about their physical, they all said their doctors (different to my one) listened to their heart with their bra on and didn’t perform a breast exam. Don’t mean to sound egotistical but I can’t help but think that the fact I’m an attractive young woman played a role in what he made me do. I’m used to being scantily clad for my job (I’ve got over 25,000 twitter followers through my modelling) but I think he took advantage of me, knowing I needed him to pass me on the physical. It was probably the most humiliating experience of my life. I just felt so powerless.
Has anyone ever been in a similar situation before? Is it worth filing a complaint?
Thanks
1 like, 11 replies
Guest
Posted
sanderella
Posted
rose94982 sanderella
Posted
Bevanne
Posted
jessica09583 ColeyX
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Hakuna_matata ColeyX
Posted
I guess its not unheard of although I think id of confronted the issue at the time maybe because you got this offer you thiught you must be gorgeous and therefore everyine wanted you ? Why did you not say why, when he asked to remove your bra my dr listens to my chest and heart by puttin his hand up my top
BT_Says... ColeyX
Posted
Yes, report it. You may save someone more vulnerable from something worse than you experienced.
rula24538 ColeyX
Posted
Hi There
What a horrible and embarressing experience you had. You must have felt under pressure to comply with this practitioner's request because of your pending exciting trip..
I think that the expectations to undergo physical examinations for these purposes are largeley underestimated. There does not seem to be much importance placed on the right to request a female practitioner for these examinations.
It seems to be just taken for granted that women will 'just do as they are told and 'so what' if they are exposed to a strange man'. There is a question of dignity here.
I think this person violated your dignity. Having a female chaperone present does not make this OK either. This is because a male is still seeing and feeling you.....This was not an emergency situation and neither was there a specific intimate concern.
In cases such as these, I think women ought to;
1. request what is required prior to the examinations i.e will bra removal be necessary? Is a breast exaination necessary? If so, I think women should request a female doctor or seek alternative centres.
2.refuse to remove your bra and make another appointment.
No one should feel that they have to be coerced into this degrading and humiliation treatment.
I don't know if this person was just being grossly insensitive and unprofessional. I think, the fact that you felt violated suggests that his conduct was improper.
I certainly think that you should have your say. Perhaps write a letter to the company. This might make you feel more empowered, perhaps.
Goog luck
sam18386 ColeyX
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He's a dirty pervert! Report him, disgusting man!
kez1999 ColeyX
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WTAF..............whether you're a model or not or have a zillion twitter followers (which we didn't need to know, a bit like the rest of your post) he'd have done it. A pervert is a pervert. Ask your own gp what he thinks.
bev88738 ColeyX
Posted