OHHH The Arrogance of Some Doctors!!

BabyRN2Be · Jul 19, 2005

I agree with everyone here. That's the height of arrogance and rudeness to answer a phone at a woman's most vulnerable time. What if the position was switched? You were the doc and you took a call while performing a prostate exam? (BTW, I get so tired of men gritching about this exam... women have to do it more often. Now they have their own blood test for PSA and we have to go through this humiliating exam) :angryfire

I'd suggest that you call and tell me about it... call him on his cell and explain the situation while you're leaving. T'would be poetic justice if you could.

I do hope your friend finds a more compassionate OB.

LoriChr · Jul 19, 2005

My cell is off and in my purse while I'm at work.

Ditto. Unfortunately I couldn't always say that about my co-workers. It took a meeting before everyone finally turned their phones off during work hours. :rolleyes:

I also work in an office. Our docs carry cell phones at all times but will not answer if in a room with a patient. Worst case, if they have an emergency brewing, they will excuse themselves, step outside the room and take the call.

That OB was way out of line, I hope a complaint gets filed.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

I'd report him and never go back.

Chicklet2 · Jul 19, 2005

I agree with everyone here. That's the height of arrogance and rudeness to answer a phone at a woman's most vulnerable time. What if the position was switched? You were the doc and you took a call while performing a prostate exam? (BTW, I get so tired of men gritching about this exam... women have to do it more often. Now they have their own blood test for PSA and we have to go through this humiliating exam) :angryfire
I'd suggest that you call and tell me about it... call him on his cell and explain the situation while you're leaving. T'would be poetic justice if you could.
I do hope your friend finds a more compassionate OB.

A friend of mine was in for her pap with her legs up on the stirrups and parts exposed when the doc said he'd be back in a minute and opened the door wide open (the room opens up onto the waiting room) she said pretty much everyone in the waiting room saw her exposed. She said she put on her clothes as soon as he left and left the office without completeing the exam.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

I hate cell phones. People at work should turn them off, doctors included.

GigLs2u · Jul 19, 2005

I agree with Tweety. I hate it in the store, at the post office, people driving and talking, etc. BTW yesterday on Netscape there was a highlight link that listed cell phones by how much radiation they emit. The following link about the controversy may be of interest: http://www.sciencenews.org/20000212/fob1.asp

Recently, my PCP got a phone call on his cell while he was seeing me in an exam room. The phone was loud enough I heard the entire conversation! It was female. He asked if she had finished moving yet. She asked him about going to the club that night and so on... I personally like him and think he is knowledgeable but I am considering changing.

In addition, during my period as a circulating nurse I encountered an orthopedic surgeon who thought the circulating nurse was the secretary for his cell phone. For weeks we were answering it, relaying personal messages while he operated, and taking business messages. Eventually, it was taken to management and stopped!

I hate cell phones. People at work should turn them off, doctors included.

lpnadmin · Jul 20, 2005

When I worked in the ER, there wasn't a night that went by without my asking someone to turn their cell phone _off_ while in the tx room. You would be surprised how many definitions of "off" there are (i.e. ringer off, silent mode, etc.) yet receive calls. All the while, a regular POTS phone sits unused.

We also had a problem with 'entourages', or groups of family members crowded in the tx room to help 'take care' of the patient. The exception: we allowed family groups in the room when the patient's death was imminent.

Oh, the ER stories.

smk1, LPN · Jul 20, 2005

perhaps i am the only one thinking this but... did he take off his gloves before picking up the phone or what?!....

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jul 20, 2005

EEEEW! :stone

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Jul 20, 2005

I'm curious to see if any of you have witnessed such an utter disregard for a patient's care and feelings. My good friend is pregnant with her second child. She goes for her first sono and needed a pap as well. She's in the stirrups, prepped for her pap when the doctor's cell phone rings, AND HE ANSWERS IT!!! She's laying on the table with her feminine business exposed and he stops to take a phone call. And, as if that wasn't bad enough, during her lady partsl sono, he has the probe inserted, he's examining the uterus, and guess what? THE PHONE RINGS AGAIN!!! And yes, HE ANSWERS IT!!! As a woman, I am absolutely apaulled, as a student of the profession and the daughter of a physician, I am angered. What absolute arrogance!! Have any of you ever seen anything like this? Maybe I'm just crazy, but I'm thinkin that this type of thing crosses the line. What do you think?

ok 2 things before i write my response. I am NOT an nurse. 2 as I am only 17 and am not yet sexually active i have not had one of these exams yet. that said...this appauls me.:angryfire She should report him to the boards, her insuranse, and leave him and his WHOLE practice for someone else. none of this just switching to a different doc while staying with his doctor "group" like some people do.

GigLs2u · Jul 20, 2005

No

I had the privilege (NOT) of holding to his ear.

perhaps i am the only one thinking this but... did he take off his gloves before picking up the phone or what?!....

Cute_CNA, CNA · Jul 20, 2005

Hey, I would have taken the opportunity to hang it up myself. It's rude enough that he answers it, and then he expects you to hold it for him like you're his servant?