Good Doctors

Posted by Sarahbear on May 29, 2010

It takes more than a stethoscope...

I keep re-reading this blog post on Liberator’s website and trying to be angry. I want to be pissed that there are doctors who harshly judge their patients and then have the audacity to write about what they’re thinking in a public forum. I want to be livid.

Instead? I am sad.

Sad because we trust medical professionals with the most important thing in our lives, our health. We put them up on pedestals as upstanding members of our society. We expect them to treat us with dignity and respect. Outside of our most intimate sexual relationships, doctors and nurses are the people who see us when we’re most vulnerable.

When they get up close and personal with the most intimate parts of our bodies, we fully expect them to do so maturely. Behaving as a full grown adult who has completed several years of medical training. Not like the third grade bully making fun of the fat girl on the playground. These people witness things that the general public never sees, on a regular basis, so they should be able to control themselves in the vast majority of situations. Normal human anatomy and how it reacts to normal biological occurrences should not cause them to freak out, even internally.

Reading about a doctor being so repulsed by his patient’s naked body that he could barely stomach touching her (which is kind of necessary to give her a proper medical examination) just reminded me of why I have avoided seeing a doctor for my own issues for over three years. I suffered through issues that have gotten progressively worse. Symptoms that could have meant I had very serious health problems were ignored so that I could avoid the possibly embarrassing  and disapproving scowl of a doctor who was disgusted by the very sight of my anatomy. Even when I finally did get frustrated enough with my health problems to make an appointment, I avoided the gaze of the nurse in the room and tried to ignore the look on her face. After reading that blog I can’t help but wonder if she too was grossed out at the sight of my vulva. My anxiety about my follow up appointments will be worse now.

There are daily news updates about how much obesity and it’s related health problems are costing the health care system. There are statistics citing how many obesity related deaths occur each year. When you read something like this is it any wonder why obese people opt to stay home and suffer with their ailments until they require major medical interventions rather than seek out preventative care? With the cost of  medical insurance, understaffed hospitals and over-booked doctor offices we have enough problems with our health care system already. We shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not doctors are going to be too immature to handle seeing our naked bodies. Perhaps if they can’t they should look into a line of work.