Tips
For Sexual Abuse Victims
Many survivors of sexual abuse
feel uncomfortable having healthcare providers of the opposite
sex perform intimate procedures or see certain parts of their
bodies. For some, having a male gynecologist can be particularly
distressing and may trigger painful memories or further trauma.
The medical community needs to be more sensitive to the needs
and concerns of sexual abuse survivors and make reasonable efforts
to accommodate their preferences.
You have the right to express your preference
for a same-sex healthcare provider for intimate medical care.
Don't let medical professionals intimidate you or discourage
you from speaking up about your concerns.
Below, we have listed some tips to help you
request a same-sex medical team.
1) Be firm and
clear about your preferences for a same-sex medical team and
your expectations regarding modesty and privacy.
2) If a hospital
cannot accommodate your request for same-sex medical care, look
into another hospital nearby that may be better able to respect
your preferences for privacy and modesty.
3) Tell the medical
providers that based on your life experience you find it degrading
and humiliating to be subjected to opposite gender care and
refuse treatment. Put it in writing. Get a letter from a licensed
psychologist stating that exposing you against your will is
an assault and that you are competent and that your healthcare
decisions are supported by the therapist. Make sure you find
a psychologist who is sensitive to your needs and agree that
you should be able to get the same gender care. (Contributed
By: Belinda Diamond)
4) Be vocal and
assertive when advocating for your needs. Always speak up if
something makes you feel uncomfortable or compromises your privacy
or modesty. For example, if you feel that an examination room
does not provide adequate privacy, explain your concerns and
ask the staff to address them before proceeding.
5) Remember that
you have the right to express your needs and decline an examination
or procedure. Putting your wishes in writing and asking your
healthcare providers to acknowledge them can help ensure they
are taken seriously. One sexual abuse survivor gave her letter
to the nurse in a sealed envelope and asked her to share it
with the physician. After researching her providers beforehand,
she was pleasantly surprised by their positive responses. She
found that using the letter made a significant difference compared
with explaining her concerns verbally. Here is a sample
letter you can use.
Special Thanks to Belinda Diamond, Writer/Researcher
psycho social aspects of medical care that are detrimental to
sound mental health; patient advocacy training for victims of
sexual assault who has contributed to some of the information
on this web page.
** Check out the testimony
of a sexual abuse survivor Medical Patient Modesty helped to
take steps to ensure she had an all-female staff for the birth
of her baby. **
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