In 2009, still amazed that sexism is alive and well

[annmariern]

I had a pt the other day. 43 year old female, abdo pain, muktiple hx of utis, kidneys stones etc. CT negative. But, not a drug seeker in anyway, 1 darvocet for a headache when asked, never put her light on for anything, nauseated on clears. Her Dr and surgeon were respectively Pakistani (with a well known issue with women full stop) and a middle eastern doc surgeon. Both on talking to them after taking care of her for 12 hrs dismissed all her symptoms as " shes crazy, how old is she? ) pause to look up the age 43. "just another middle aged women with nothing better to do" As a 43yr old women asking him. i said oh I suppose that includes the nurse? Yes came the reply. So tell me why you cant offend a persons race, but sex, oh well thats fine? And how disturbing to me that on going to a hospital with abdo pain you better hope its an obvious cause, or else, good look lady, your neurotic. How many times have you seen cases the CAT scan missed? Why in 2009 is this still acceptable?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I always advocate for my patients by telling them they always have the option of obtaining a second opinion.

This is how we advocate for our patients:

1. Encourage the pt to ask for a second opinion.

2. Just because you are in the hospital doesn't mean that you don't have choices about what tests are done - you do.

3. Always ask for a complete explanation of what this or that particular test is expected to rule in or out.

4. Did I say seek a second opinion?

At any rate, it is okay to discuss with the pt that if they don't feel they are getting to the cause of their pain/problem, then going further is not bad.

[oramar]

My husband and I are in early 60s. I have watched him get better medical care than me all my life. That goes double since we have got older. He has never had any trouble getting anyone to believe him when he says he sick while I have always had to be super advocate for myself . If we both went to the ER right now and we were both having MIs, studies have shown again and again that he would receive optimal care and I would not. What I am going to say next is just my opinion. I think this second class citizenship as far as medical care is concerned is directly related to the male physicians and the attitudes they have toward women, especially older women. Also in my opinion male doctors from middle eastern countries and Asia tend to have even stronger negative attitudes toward women. Again, just my opinion based on personal experience. I also think socio-economic factors play into this and I doubt if Barbara Bush has experienced any of this.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

My husband and I are in early 60s. I have watched him get better medical care than me all my life. That goes double since we have got older. He has never had any trouble getting anyone to believe him when he says he sick while I have always had to be super advocate for myself . If we both went to the ER right now and we were both having MIs, studies have shown again and again that he would receive optimal care and I would not. What I am going to say next is just my opinion. I think this second class citizenship as far as medical care is concerned is directly related to the male physicians and the attitudes they have toward women, especially older women. Also in my opinion male doctors from middle eastern countries and Asia tend to have even stronger negative attitudes toward women. Again, just my opinion based on personal experience. I also think socio-economic factors play into this and I doubt if Barbara Bush has experienced any of this.

yes, yes, yes

[rita359]

Sorry to say, but you have to consider the source. Most men from the countries you mentioned grew up with poor attitudes toward all wormen. Consider that they murder the woman who is raped and the man gets nothing. This is an ingrained attitude that will not change with one generation. Second point is that we have to encourage all our patients to be their own best advocates. Second and third opinions may be necessary before someone actually listens and figures out what the problem is.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Why are you surprised in a society that says it's OK for a woman to make 78c to every dollar a male makes? Despite legislation.

I went to church with my lazy husband once. They said "Women obey your husband" OK, so I'm meant to obey this lazy SOB that hangs about the house doing nothing and doesn't have a job (this was before the economy went bad) because of his sex? Made me pretty atheist pretty fast.

Did you see the amount of sexist remarks Hillary Clinton got? Americas bigots knew they could get away with those in a way they could not get away with the same thing with Obama.

Sexism is going on around you all the time and has been since you were born. But to question it makes you a feminazi or some other nasty name.

I love this post. My church said the same thing to me, and I told them I would NEVER be subservient to ANY man. They told me I was going to hell. I told them I'd see them there. Biggest bunch of hypocrites I was ever around. And they wonder why there's hardly anyone left in that church.

[KaroSnowQueen, RN]

I would write up the physicians in question and send a copy to the top person in risk management. These "docs" attitudes could kill someone, or someone could overhear them (a patient) and sue both them and the hospital. If the hospital fears for its wallet, these docs may get a little attitude adjustment from the big wigs.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I would write up the physicians in question and send a copy to the top person in risk management. These "docs" attitudes could kill someone, or someone could overhear them (a patient) and sue both them and the hospital. If the hospital fears for its wallet, these docs may get a little attitude adjustment from the big wigs.

yup, this is what i was getting at, as well......it will always be about the money

[imim]

Angelfire,

Find a different church. Don't lose faith because of one church's misinterpretations. The bible also says "husbands, submit to your wives".