Emergency room rape

[dwensel]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Pennsylvania

My friend, who suffers from acute vulvoginia and possibly microscopic endometriosis was advised by her specialst to proceed to the emergency room at the hospital in Lancaster, Pa. The doctor at the emergency room insisted upon an internal exam depsite the fact that the patient was in extreme pain and had an internal exam from her specialist only a few weeks ago. Doctor insisted on exam, despite agonizing pain inflicted on mt friend by this doctor when inserting fingers into the vaginal cavity. Doctor had also insisted patient be entirely naked for this exam. Doctor refused any type of pain relief during this process to be sure patient was not just trying to obtain stronger narcotics for pain relief.

We believe that criminal negligence and even rape charges should be filed. What are our best courses of action? I have been advised (by a doctor) that complaints should be filed with the hospital's ECOMS and the Pennsylvania State Board of Professional Licensing to start with.

 

[lealea1005]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Pennsylvania

My friend, who suffers from acute vulvoginia and possibly microscopic endometriosis was advised by her specialst to proceed to the emergency room at the hospital in Lancaster, Pa. The doctore insisted upon an internal exam depsite the fact that the patient was in extreme pain and had an internal exam from her specialist only a few weeks ago. Doctor insisted on exam, despite agonizing pain inflicted on mt friend by this doctor when inserting fingers into the vaginal cavity. Doctor had also insisted patient be entirely naked for this exam. Doctor refused any type of pain relief during this process to be sure patient was not just trying to obtain stronger narcotics for pain relief.

We believe that criminal negligence and even rape charges should be filed. What are our best courses of action. I have been advised (by a doctor) that complaints should be filed with the hospital's ECOMS and the Pennsylvania State Board of Professional Licensing to start with.

Umm...you must mean vulvodynia. An pelvic exam was necessary to rule out any kind of infection or other causes related to her pain. Was a culture obtained, as well?

I'm sure the patient was properly draped for the exam.

There is no indication for pain relief for the exam.

Rape?? How else would you expect the Physician to properly diagnose her pain??

 

[dwensel]

Ok, my vulvodynia was stated incorrectly. Thanks for the correction. A urine sample had been taken to detect infection. You do NOT have to be completely naked for a vaginal exam. There was absolutely no regard for the patient's pain whatsoever. Her specialist believes this doctor acted inapropriately.

 

[ecmst12]

A urine test can not detect a vaginal infection. That would diagnose a bladder infection. Not the same.

 

[lealea1005]

Ok, my vulvodynia was stated incorrectly. Thanks for the correction. A urine sample had been taken to detect infection. You do NOT have to be completely naked for a vaginal exam. There was absolutely no regard for the patient's pain whatsoever. Her specialist believes this doctor acted inapropriately

.

The, IMHO, he should have treated her himself instead of punting her to the ER.

There was nothing inappropriate about her treatment. Of course, you're more than welcome to file a complaint with the hospital and professional licensing board. They will obtain your friend's statement, statements from the treating Physician, and her entire ER record for review. No action will be taken because the Physician treated your friend appropriately and well within the standard of care.

 

[dwensel]

The specialist was over an hour away and we are talking about acute pain here. The ER doctor had access to all of the patient's records. Despite your claim that an internal exam was necessary, there should have been some attention paid to the pain the patient was suffereing. Even the assisting nurse commented that he was being too rough and not listening to the patient.

Your assumption that he did nothing inappropriate is based on what?

 

[lealea1005]

Your assumption that he did nothing inappropriate is based on what?

Experience.

Even the assisting nurse commented that he was being too rough and not listening to the patient.

To whom? The treating Physician?

 

[dwensel]

Apparently you believe, that because of your professional experience, that gives you the right to treat people without compassion or regard to their condtion and the proper treatment of such. Were you there? Do you have any idea what kind of pain these condtions cause in a woman? Do you know that the following day, she saw her specialist who determined she had been scratched and made swollen from this exam?

 

[dwensel]

Experience.



To whom? The treating Physician?

Who else are we talking about here? Yes, the treating physician.

 

[swalsh411]

Your assumption that he did nothing inappropriate is based on what?

Because you haven't met the burden of proof that there was any inappropriateness. It's a very big hill to climb to show that an ER doctor, in full view of other hospital staff, sexually assaulted a woman suffering from a condition like you are describing.

First of all, were you there? If not then you are only hearing your friend's account. She admittedly has a serious medical issue and suffered through, from her perspective at least, an invasive and traumatic exam, but having said that it's fair to say her view of the event may be tainted.

Considering your friend's exam was several weeks ago and this condition can change rapidly he appears to have decided that he needed to verify it for himself. Would you have preferred that he ignored the possibility that a new or worse condition had developed? Obviously if she was in greater pain then she had been the day before then something was very wrong.

 

[lealea1005]

Apparently you believe, that because of your professional experience, that gives you the right to treat people without compassion or regard to their condtion and the proper treatment of such.

She WAS treated properly.

Were you there? Do you have any idea what kind of pain these condtions cause in a woman?

No and yes.

Do you know that the following day, she saw her specialist who determined she had been scratched and made swollen from this exam?

Ummm...scratches and swelling could also be caused by the condition itself, but the specialist must already know that.

 

[lealea1005]

Who else are we talking about here? Yes, the treating physician.

She could have made the comment to you and the patient. Is she willing to document her observation in your complaint?

 

[Isis1]

if her specialist thought the medical procedure was inappropriate, isn't HE obligated to report the ER doctor to the medical board? if in fact he determined such?

 

[lealea1005]

if her specialist thought the medical procedure was inappropriate, isn't HE obligated to report the ER doctor to the medical board? if in fact he determined such?

It would be the ethical thing to do...IF he thought the treatment was inappropriate. First, he probably would have called the ER Doc to discuss the patient and her treatment.

 

[dwensel]

We are about to find out the answers to both of those questions. If in fact, what I say here is true AND the nurse is willing to back up her statement AND the specialist is willing to pursue the complaint himself, do you STILL believe he acted (that is the attending physician, just so we are clear) acted appropriately?