My wife was recently diagnosed with a perianal abscess that is going to require surgery in the OR.
As you can imagine, this is about as embarrassing and compromising a surgery as one can have. My wife is an extremely modest and private individual (she refuses to see a male internist or a male OBGYN, and the general surgeon who will be removing the fistula is a female doctor). My wife is immensely uncomfortable about having this procedure done. Not just because of the compromising nature of the procedure itself, but because she is also concerned that there will be male personnel in the room. And honestly, I can't blame her. If I were in her shoes, I'd have some serious qualms about having staff of the opposite gender witnessing me bent over in the jacknife position and having my orifice operated on. I know we are all professionals, but still.....people have different levels of trust for medical personnel, and different modesty needs.
I know she wants an all-female staff in the operating room (with the exception of the anesthesiologist, which she doesn't care about). Quite frankly, I've never run into this situation before - neither as a patient, nor as a resident, nor as an attending doc. Patients have asked me once or twice in the past, but none have actually requested this. But again, it's my wife...and what's important to her is important to me. And unfortunately, I'm not on staff at the hospital where the procedure is scheduled to go, so needless to say I can't pull any strings for her.
What are the prospects of her surgeon and the OR staff making this accommodation for her? If any of you have had any experience with this scenario, I'd certainly appreciate it if you'd relate them to me.
I have a hard time understanding this cultural practice, in my personal view nudity is a-ok when it's healthcare professionals and it's a matter-of-fact situation like this.
However we're suppose to be culturally sensitive and try to make accommodations for different cultures and attitudes towards modesty, even if they're attitudes we don't ourselves have or totally understand.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
posting to a public internet forum allows members to offer their opinion on a topic. original poster needs to be mindful they will get a variety of opinions on subject and needs to be able to accept negative responses outside their personal feelings as there are pros and cons to everything in life...along with common sense.
however, name calling, personal attacks, calling op troll against an terms of service . use or icons: report to report objectionable comments instead of engaging.
thread will remain closed.
need staff of single sex to meet persons religious, cultural or modesty concerns: discuss with health care provider and management staff of selected facility when an elective procedure. in these days of patient centered care, most will try and accomodate individuals needs.
employment law however, does not allow facility to staff single gender only.
the law forbids discrimination when it comes to any aspect of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment.
opinion on a topic. original poster needs to be mindful they will get a variety of opinions on subject and needs to be able to accept negative responses outside their personal feelings as there are pros and cons to everything in life...along with common sense. 
Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN
340 Posts
I have a hard time understanding this cultural practice, in my personal view nudity is a-ok when it's healthcare professionals and it's a matter-of-fact situation like this.
However we're suppose to be culturally sensitive and try to make accommodations for different cultures and attitudes towards modesty, even if they're attitudes we don't ourselves have or totally understand.