The other day I was going about my business assisting the Registrar to suture my client after an instrumental when into the room pops the Consultant on-call…
(Please consider the lack of dignity that the lithotomy position offers at this moment, and that the woman had never met the Consultant and he had no involvement in her care…..oh and he didn’t knock he just waltzed right on in)
To the Woman “Hello”
To the Registrar- commences discussing the patient in room 3
Me to the Consultant “Would you care to just pop outside Doctor and then I can keep it more private for the lady…” (Spoken quietly at the edge of the room, after approx 3 mins of staring at the woman’s perineum so as to try to not be disrespectful or unprofessional)
The consultant to me “Don’t be ridiculous I am a Doctor!””
Me to the Consultant “I don’t care who you are, at the moment you are just another male looking at the woman’s perineum which I am sure she will not appreciate, and neither would I appreciate if I were in her position”
I think some reminders in how invasive birth can be if handled in this manner would be welcome in obstetric units. Oh and this is not just a Doctor bashing session – please remember as midwives too that we have a duty of care to respect women’s privacy and dignity in birth so knock when you wish to enter a room and ask if you may come in! Not only is this polite to do so but actually helps foster a better birthing environment.
Any thoughts or similar experiences?
The Merry Midwife 