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.

Update: Please see this post written the next day after looking into the matter a bit more. It’s unfortunate that the article in The Globe and Mail below had such an alarmist slant to it.

Update: Continuing to research issue– see a list of teaching hospitals in Canada: http://www.caho-hospitals.com/member_hospitals.aspx — I need to find out more: Is it true? How widespread is the problem; etc.

Sent from me to many friends via e-mail with BCC earlier today.

Hi All,

This story is deeply disturbing. Women who are under general
anesthetic in hospital recovery rooms can be subject to routine
examination by med students without consent in Canada. This is a
strict violation of everything a scientist would believe with respect
to human health and dignity.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/time-to-end-pelvic-exams-done-without-consent/article1447337/

Please have a look and figure out if what action you’d like to take.
Spreading the word, figuring out who knows what and the extent of the
problem are good steps (self-education, personal preventative measures
etc.).

Conversely, if you can verify that this is a myth– that can also be
good (puts minds at ease).

At the very least, bringing up a petition or a stronger public
presence of the problem are both possible.

Thanks,
Eddie Ma