Ed's Big Plans

This is a more balanced article about the issue found in The Hamilton Spectator.

“Disclosure of pelvic exams in question” (Joanna Frketich); found at the following address.

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/714924

Summary, origin of the phenomenon, contrasts with previously posted article:

• A study was published (found here, “Education” — http://www.sogc.org/jogc/currentissue_e.aspx – accessed Jan 2010)
• Pelvic exams are integral to some surgeries, part of determining proper treatment
• A pelvic exam is performed three times, once by each a doctor, a resident, a medical student
• Contrast to Mr. Picard’s article posted previously indicating a ‘parade’ of students
• The actual problem is whether or not the single student on the team has been given direct consent
• Whereas what is thought of as implied is that the team is given consent as a whole (opinions, practices will change)
• Article goes on to indicate that this consent for each individual should be (will become) the norm

Thoughts, Conclusion:

Med students should be taught to practice — My feeling is that communication is the primary problem: the ratio of women polled that were asked explicit consent for medical students to perform the pelvic exam should have been greater.

The latter article by Frketich revisits the problem but discusses it far more calmly (so as to not break the brains of her readers). It even cites several women healthcare professionals for the inside scoop– something we didn’t get with the former article. We end up with a picture that states what we have always taken for granted in Canada– that when a problem is discovered, it is fixed– in this case, it’s communication between healthcare professionals and patients.

As mentioned in my previous post– it is an object of pride that Canada has excellent healthcare– which is the reason for the dismay, my personal dismay at even the subtle hint let alone a full blown implication of “something this wrong” with the system. If you become a surgery patient at any point, keep informed and ask the right questions: “Who’s going to be operating on me?”, “Who’s going to do the pelvic examination?”. This is the solution that taps the original problem stated: that women just didn’t know what happened for lack of communication.

Notes:

• Former article by Andre Picard titled “Time to end pelvic exams done without consent” found in the following.
• http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/time-to-end-pelvic-exams-done-without-consent/article1447337/

BCC’d to the same individuals contacted yesterday.