right to see a female doctor?

[zztopgirl]

I have been under the care of a female gynaecologist and am currently just having check ups with a nurse. I just found out that the gynae has now retired and a male doctor has taken over, and they will not take into account anyone wishes to see a female doctor.

I had an extremely bad experience with this male doctor many years ago during childbirth, and have heard countless other horror stories about him. I am now terrified of requiring treatment or tests again in the future, which is highly likely given my condition.

Surely this is discrimination? Have women got the right to see a female doctor if they choose to?

Eta, i would rather pay privately to see a female doctor if it came to the crunch. I suppose female gynaes are few and far between but surely women still have the right to be seen by one even if it means a lot of travel?

[Bargain Rzl]

I don't have any practical advice, but on a point of clarity - does the issue of seeing a female gynae really bother you, or is it just that you have good reason not to want to see this particular male one?

[bryanb]

"Surely this is discrimination"? Yes, against the doctor.

[Krasnoludek]

I think you have every right to ask for another doctor and some of the comments on here are a bit uncalled for.

I too had a dreadful birth with my 1st daughter and when I got pregnant with my 2nd daughter there was just no way I was prepared to see this doctor. I wasnt unreasonable or shouty nor did I ask for "special treatment" I just would like to see a different doctor.


I wrote a very pleasant letter and asked for another doctor and it was sorted out immediately.

I think if you turn up shouting the odds and call the Doctor fit to burn they would have every reason to have the hump but maybe give them the benefit of the doubt and just ask and explain why

Good luck

K x

[melancholly]

i'm sure that if you are being examined by a male gyne then you have the right to ask for a female nurse to be present. i don't know that that will make a difference with this particular doctor (as it seems to be his reputation/your experience with him that's the problem, not the fact that he's male).

[Dill]

Hi

I asked to see a female gynae when I went a few years ago, and was told (rather rudely!) that I 'get who I get'. This was by a lady gynaecologist!

According to the Patients Association you do have the right to ask to be seen by a female gynae, if you wish. I'm sure I've read somewhere else that this is the case, too, - you might just have to wait a bit longer.

Btw. slightly o/t, but in the event the lady gynaecologist I saw (the one who was rude to me) actually mis-diagnosed me and sent me for an op I didn't need! I too dread returning to them, but not because of the gender of the Dr, but just because they were so horrible:(

I know that under choose and book you can choose the hospital, but I don't know if it's possible to avoid seeing a particular Dr:confused:

Good luck with things, I hope you work something out. You don't want to be worrying about having to go back to someone you really don't feel comfortable with.

[kal25]

I know that under choose and book you can choose the hospital, but I don't know if it's possible to avoid seeing a particular Dr:confused:

If u can find out then name of the dr u wish to see, they can possibly accomadate this. I know when I used the choose and book I asked to be seen by the same gynae that I had my 3 children with. The least u can do is ask, afre all u have a genuine reason to want to see someone different.

[horsechestnut]

If you go back to your G.P. and ask for a different Consultant, (giving valid reasons) then he/she will refer you again. There may well be a female available, but you may then get a male on her "team", and you then have to accept that person as part of her team. As previously said, you can have a female nurse present as a chaperon.

[zztopgirl]

Hi and thanks for the replies. I only found out this morning, but since thinking about it, i would be happy with another male gynae, just not this particular one. Its not a 'dig' at male doctors in particular, just that ive had a very bad experience with this particular doctor, and i hope those who read this can understand.

I only found out recently that he could have been prosecuted for what he did to me, but due to the amount of time lapsed, i cant do anything. He was my OB when i was pregnant, so when i had my second child, i just chose to be booked in under a different OB, but although there are several OBs at this hospital, only one is also a gynae. I have never had a problem showing them everything:eek:, its just this particular one.

There are always 2 female nurses present when i go for my tests/treatment, so thats not a worry. I think deep down as well, that im afraid that he may remember me after all these years.

[Dill]

I only found out recently that he could have been prosecuted for what he did to me, but due to the amount of time lapsed, i cant do anything.

:eek: :eek:

If you don't get any joy with avoiding this gyn. on the NHS, it really might be worth considering the private route, as you suggested in your first post.

Perhaps you have someone in mind already, but if not there is, I think, a company who do smear/HPV testing/second opinions, etc privately. I think they are NHS doctors, but you just see them privately and I imagine you would have far more control over who you get to see.

Take Care

[sillyvixen]

is there another local hospital within the trust with a different gynae? prehaps if you explain to your gp and are willing to travel a few extra miles you could be reffered to him or her.
i have been reffered back to my consaultant for a op that is usually not in his remit due to the fact that i have had problems following the difficult surgery he performed earlier. i have learned today that both my origional surgeon and the sergeon who would normally perform that op will both be performing the op. the origional sergeon as he has opened me up before and knows the lie of the land (so to speak) and the consaultant who would usually perform this proceedure. it was my origional consaultant who stated in my discharge note to the gp that in the event of further abdo surgery i was to be reffered back to him as i have specific problems that he has encountered before and he did not want another surgeon going in 'blind'.

[firepoppy]

I think you are well within your rights to request a different doctor and good luck. BTW, if you don't mind me asking, what did he do to you? Surely he should still be accountable for malpractice even if it was a long time ago?