Me: "Mr. Smith?"
Patient: "Yes..."
Me: "Hi, I'm Dr. McFizz."
Patient: "Oh no, are you the one who's going to be electrocuting me?"
Me: "Ummmmmmm.... I guess."
Patient: "But I specifically said I didn't want a woman to do it."
Me: "Are you serious?"
Patient: "Last time, a woman did it and she really hurt me. I don't want a woman."
Me: "Well, all the residents today are female, so it looks like you're out of luck."
Patient: "What about Dr. Attending? Can't he do it?"
Me: "Nope."
Patient: "Women always screw things up. They can never take my blood right. They're always hurting me."
Me: "I'll try not to hurt you, Mr. Smith." Even though I really really want to.
I have to admit, that was a first. Honestly, usually patients are happy to get a female doctor if they show a preference either way.
That is because people falsley assume females will be more gentle.
ReplyDeleteYeah. The cruelest Pap smears are from females. I don't know what their problem is. I've always been extra gentle when performing them, but apparently I'm the only female who does them kindly.
DeleteSeriously. I don't ever want to go back to the OB-GYN because mine hurt so badly. I was sore for hours afterward.
DeleteBecause electrocution hurts less when performed by the male of the species...
ReplyDeleteI have had this experience many times as an ophthalmology resident working at the VA- the best was when one of my patients (who I gave an intravitreal injection to), stepped out of my office after the procedure, and loudly exclaimed to the other waiting patients- "You should let the lady doctor give you your injection! It was much less painful than last time!"
ReplyDelete