Anyone here a doctor?

[Crazy Flamer]

So my girlfriend goes to see her doctor a few weeks ago and she proceeds to tell me about the visit. She is pregnant and has been emotional as of late.

Now the way she described her visit, it seems to both me and her that the doctor did some pretty inappropriate things while she was there. Needless to day, she is a little shaken up and I am downright pissed.

I want to know if there is any way I can find out if what the doctor did was indeed inappropriate. Maybe a doctor here could offer some advice?

Also, it if turns out the doctor did act in a manner which he was not supposed to, what is the next step?

[BlackArcher101]

Diagnosis... she's pregnant.

Seriously though, I'm not a doctor but having worked with my fair share of pregnant woman, I can attest to the fact they like blowing things out of proportion very easily. Not saying you girlfriend is lying or anything, just saying there is the possibility it's exaggerated by her situation.

Now, having said that, only an investigation would come up with the answer... sorry, I mean A answer. Here is who you want to contact or deal with. http://www.cpsa.ab.ca/home/home.asp and more specifically http://www.cpsa.ab.ca/aboutus/complaints_dept.asp. The website is very thorough so it should answer most if not all of your questions.

What you are looking for is possibly in the Code of Ethics. http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/53556/la_id/1.htm

[habernac]

was there not a female nurse in the room during said examination? That is a requirement as far as I know.

[Crazy Flamer]

No female nurse...

[Jayems]

edit

[MrMastodonFarm]

Contact the College's Complaints Department:
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
2700 - 10020-100 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 0N3

Phone: (780) 423-4764
Fax: (780) 420-0651

General Public Inquires: 1-800 561-3899

General & Sexual Exploitation Complaints Line: 1-800- 661-4689

E-mail: sbarron@cpsa.ab.ca

[rubecube]

I'm a self-certified Love Doctor...but I fail to see how that assists your current situation.

[nickerjones]

dang , if you were in states you would already be a millionaire.... seems all you have to do is mention wrong doing down here and you get a huge settlement .......

[peter12]

This probably shouldn't be taken lightly. If she was assaulted or touched inappropriately, the doctor was in huge violation of his position.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by habernac

was there not a female nurse in the room during said examination? That is a requirement as far as I know.

I Believe it is an option of both the patient and the Doctor if they want a Nurse present in the room...

Contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons... the link provided above... and explain what happened. Doctors are self-regulating professions, which means that things are dealt with internally first. An investigation may be launched and other patients of the Doctor may be contacted.

[Slava]

If you do want to look at medical malpractice though you have to be careful and stealthy about it here. As soon as the doctors get wind of a possible claim they circle the wagons pretty fast...none of them will testify against each other and you have to go outside the city to get expert witnesses. Also the doctors have an enormous warchest to fight these things...so its a huge uphill battle. If this is something that you want to do then you want an experienced lawyer.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by Hesla

I Believe it is an option of both the patient and the Doctor if they want a Nurse present in the room...

With my Dr. it is not an option, there is a Nurse present at all times during an exam.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Slava

If you do want to look at medical malpractice though you have to be careful and stealthy about it here. As soon as the doctors get wind of a possible claim they circle the wagons pretty fast...none of them will testify against each other and you have to go outside the city to get expert witnesses. Also the doctors have an enormous warchest to fight these things...so its a huge uphill battle. If this is something that you want to do then you want an experienced lawyer.

I disagree with this... In Canada at least.

A Self-regulating profession has non-members (ie. the public) board members that look at these types of things. In order to remain self-regulating (which is very advantageous to the profession), they need to uphold a strong standard. It is the appearance of the profession as a whole if someone messes up and the government would be pretty quick to step in and regulate if there is stuff being swept under the carpet.

IN the US, where there is much more libel stuff going on, it is a little different as Doctors get sued/accused a whole lot more.

Honestly, contact the CPSA (link above) and lodge a complaint... you can even see a history of previous complaints.

http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/acts/M11.cfm here is the medical professions act regarding self-regulating professions (including mine - Optometry).

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Nikki

With my Dr. it is not an option, there is a Nurse present at all times during an exam.

Personal preferrance... he feels more comfortable, and often the patient is more comfortable. If the patient does not want the nurse there, then he would ask her to leave. Usually the Nurse will leave if bad news is given as well.

[gildo]

Both my parents are retired now but were doctors, they worked in a variety of places and in a variety of positions (due to shortages) and trust me there was even things my mom had to do to pregnant women that made her even feel a little uncomfortable...it's a real sensitive time and doctors as you guys know have to do some pretty abnormal things to make sure everything is okay with mom and baby.
I remember my mom telling me that female nurses sometimes after the baby is born with the approval of the mom will physically grab the breasts of the mom and massage them to show mom how to keep circulation going (if mom is having a hard time breast feeding.
But it all depends on what the doctor did, certainly there is the ability for a doctor to go over the line and he may have in this cause.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Hesla

I disagree with this... In Canada at least.

A Self-regulating profession has non-members (ie. the public) board members that look at these types of things. In order to remain self-regulating (which is very advantageous to the profession), they need to uphold a strong standard. It is the appearance of the profession as a whole if someone messes up and the government would be pretty quick to step in and regulate if there is stuff being swept under the carpet.

IN the US, where there is much more libel stuff going on, it is a little different as Doctors get sued/accused a whole lot more.

Honestly, contact the CPSA (link above) and lodge a complaint... you can even see a history of previous complaints.

http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/acts/M11.cfm here is the medical professions act regarding self-regulating professions (including mine - Optometry).

I don't disagree with what you're saying here. But the fact is that in order to prove a claim in a court of law you have to have that expert testimony. Its a long story that I don't want to get into on the board, but suffice it to say that is not easy. Other doctors don't want to testify against other doctors and so on.

I can only assume that this comes back to doctors not wanting to pin negligence on another doctor for fear that one day they will be testified against in the opposite circumstance.

I am not saying that this is a huge systemic error, or that this is an everyday occurence, but not as easy as it sounds.

[Knut]

I think that if it is serious enough to reach the courts, then there will be someone that steps forward and testifies. Especially if sexual assault is involved. Often complaint claims are handled within the college itself, through discipline or an insurance pay-out.

If this isnt the case, there is a medical ombudsman than can be contacted if you are not happy with the progress with the college. This is will put back pressure to make things right.

[Titan]

I think Hesla and Slava are talking past each other. Hesla is right from a self-regulatory perspective. If the doctor was offside then it is the CPSA that will deal with and sanction that doctor. If the patient suffered a tort then the civil litigation system will be necessary to redress the aggrieved person. An expert may well be needed if it was a medical procedure, less likely if it was an assault type situation, depending on whether the issue is if the alleged assault was in fact a medical procedure.

I know from past a past life that experts are difficult to find but any decent lawyer has the contacts and resources to find who they need.

[DuffMan]

I'm not even a doctor, and I;ve never gotten in trouble for asking a girl to put her feet in the stirrups.

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

So my girlfriend goes to see her doctor ... She is pregnant.

Congratulations on your upcoming fatherhood!