Example of unprofessional

I had my first mammogram today and they took a brief history beforehand. One of the questions was whether or not I took estrogen and yes, I have been on BC pills; she then asked how long have you been taking them? My reply, since I was 15. She exclaimed, "Wow!" What was that about? So I said, "Excuse me?" She said, "That is a long time and so early to start them for birth control." I was floored. I asked her "Aside from needing to take my history, how is your judgment helpful, in addition to being an incorrect assumption, how is it professional?" She proceeded to tell me that "No one should be taking pills that early for birth control." I asked if she ever considered the notion that there were other reasons for taking them, could we just proceed. She actually then asked, "Why else would some take them?", so I explained there are illnesses and diseases that they prescribe them for, not just for birth control to control symptoms. She actually tried to tell me it was used as an "excuse" to take it for birth control. I was shocked. I had to do some deep breathing b/c my BP (blood press) was going up and I started to have an anxiety attack. I told her someone especially in the medical field needs to get their facts straightened out, her opinions need to be kept to herself especially this kind of ignorance, that I want another tech because she was not getting near my girls, and I need a manager NOW! She did not move, "We don't need anyone, we're fine." In my smock, I went out and found one out at the front desk; I was so flustered and pissed off that I did not even get dressed first. Then I realized I'm standing at the desk in front of the waiting room in front of a bunch of people, they finally pulled me into another room about the time I realized. I don't know what the manager is going to do about her but the next tech was very professional, very much put me at ease after I calmed down.

What I am amazed about is how someone in this day and age in the medical field, can behave this way, interjecting personal beliefs and can be so ignorant at that. When do you think she'll figure it out? And after this, the test wasn't near so bad as the emotional upheaval.

OMG - Good for you! YOU were the professional! My dad would have called her a shoemaker, no offense to shoemakers! (It was just an expression he used for incompetence in professionals, it was cute the way he did.) You are certainly no shrinking violet, and that person was being way judgmental. One thing to say that was a long time, maybe you need to take a break - but a) that's for your gyno to say, and b) the bit about "that's just an excuse"? - WAY hostile! How did you not slap her?!

That is totally inappropriate behavior on her part. I'm glad you were able to stand up to her and get someone else. I'm glad they were willing to accommodate you. I would make a written report about the tech's behavior to whoever is the supervisor at the clinic you were at. That tech should be loosing her job for that behavior (and no in some cases there shouldn't be a second chance). There is no excuse for treating patients like crap. Even if she were to be still in school to learn the tech work this would be unacceptable. I don't know if this is somewhere you use routinely (like it is part of your PCP's or OBGYN's office and so you might see the tech again (if she keeps her job). But if that is so, I would ask them to write in your chart that that tech is to never work with you. I would be so furious and demanding a letter of apology. I'm so sorry this idiotic **** made what was already a hard experience even worse.

While I personally didn't see the harm in her saying that being on birth control since you were 15 is a long time (I started around that age too, and I personally think it's a long time to be on any medication), her reply that other reasons to be on birth control is "just an excuse" to be on it is totally bull-crap. I am so glad that you stood up to her. I agree, you should write a calmly written formal complaint to her supervisor and request that if for any reason she is allowed to keep her job that she never have access to you or your charts again. She definitely should not be letting her personal beliefs interfere with her work or her patients. All of that should be checked at the door on her way into the clinic. Completely unprofessional. So sorry you had to go through that, but I absolutely love the way you handled it. Hopefully she'll think twice before bringing politics into the exam room...

I'm sorry you found out that incompetence reigns throughout!

How dare her! I started taking them when I was 16 so she wouldn't like me either. I know tons of girls who started, not bc they were sexually active, but bc they had severe pains and were irregular. That is just awful! I do agree that we shouldn't be pumping our bodies full of hormones all the time but some things are just necessary in certain situations. I wonder what she does when people come in with STDs or teen pregnancies. I would hate to have her as my doc!

Strongly Suggested: Shocked, Appalled, and Dismayed! How to Write Letters of Complaint That Get Results, by Ellen Phillips (Vintage) (Amazon $10.98/Half.com $1.75 up)

That reminds me of when I was 26 and a social worker doing an intake for an orthopedist asked me was I pregnant and I answered "No" and then she asked, "How do you know?" Needless to say, I found a different orthopedist, that one also decided I was "getting old" is why I was having problems. It was actually the podiatrist orthodic for my foot messing up my knee.

I work in retail. I kiss people's butts all day long wheter it be on the phone, in the store, dealing with corporate office, etc. After doing that for so long you expect the same kind of respect when you are the client! I have recently been hospitalized and ran into some of the most insensitive nurses on the planet. I couldn't believe it! The most helpful were the STUDENT nurses! I could go on about the nurses the run the ECT program but i might get myself all worked up again I just finally calmed down after a stessful day.....

it was good of you to leave and not take what she was doing. i wouldve left too.

That might be a standard followup question? Cuz once my gyno or her nurse asked me the same thing (but i was in my 40's), and as I started to explain (snowball's chance in hell), she interrupted after the first few words and said, "that's okay, just checking, but you'd be surprised what some people DON'T know" or something like that. So they're just trying to protect someone's unborn child who can't protect itself yet. Start a therapy fund for THAT kid!

Hey Fresia,

I'm so sorry you had to go through that experience. You did a great job standing up for yourself and your rights. There are some things that are just not anyone's business, even in the medical field.

Not only would I write a letter to the head of the office where she is employed, I would also send a copy of it to the doctor's office who ordered the mammogram. They need to know how "their" patients are being treated outside of their office. It may be enough for them to use a different office to send their patients to.

A mammo tech has no right to spew her ignorance towards her patients. They are there to perform a test, period.

You did an awesome job handling the situation. I'm not so sure I would have been as nice or as calm as you were! Kudos to you!


sabby

Fresia, Sabby already said what I wanted to say.

Good for you for standing up for yourself!

Fresia, I add my voice to the others. I am a pharmacy tech and people are given medications for many reasons beyond the "usual" reasons. Over time many meds have been found to be useful for many different conditions. You handled this situation very well and hopefully this person has learned a lesson as well in how to handle the situation...good job

I had a similar experience with my obgyn who rushed me through my procedure, was rude, his phone was going off and he started dancing to his ring tone, and did not answer my questions AT ALL. When I reported him to the higher up her response was well he was probably tired from a long night of delivering babies, in which my response was I don't care how tired he was it was no excuse for inadequate patient care. It's sad that some healthcare has reached the level of doctors and staff that rush you and don't really give a crap. Saddens me.

Thank you for sharing what happened to you. I applaud you Fresia for defending yourself. It is unacceptable for mammogram techs, nurses, and other medical personnel to be opinionatedly judgemental and ignorant. I echo what many have said : write a complaint letter.

Thank you very much for your book recommendation, Ygrec23. I am also going through a similar experience like Fresia. This will be immensely helpful for me.

What that woman said is utter BS...I was on BC at age 10 for irregular periods, and again at 13 and 15 for acne.

I'd just LOVE to smack that woman in the mouth. But I'm glad you handled it so well

I went through something similar. At 28 years of age I found out I had PID and was basically called a liar when I was said I was a virgin. I shortly later found out I had ovarian and endometrial cancer, but it is sad. Everyone has their own value systems and just because mine (wait until I'm married) is so against what the majority of the culture believes, I must have been lying. I later found out there are all kinds of reasons you can have PID like wiping wrong or leaving a tampon in too long etc.(and those of us with depression know it sometimes is hard to take care of ourselves, a shower can seem like a lot of work etc) Anyway you aren't alone lots of opinionated people out there.

I just don't see any point in asking me if I am pregnant if you are not going to trust my judgement for saying yea or nay and ask how I know? Maybe I do/do not know I am not pregnant but implying you will be the one passing judgement on my reasoning, whether you agree with it, is condescending. If I don't know, presumably I will answer, "I don't know" or "I'm unsure" or "I don't think so". Then you can ask more questions about it.

I don't believe they even took an x-ray, the doctor came in and twiddled with my knee and pronounced me "old" (at 26) and made up a condition that turned out to have nothing whatsoever to do with the actual cause of my pain.

That's why I loved psychotherapy and my therapist; I learned what good listening looked like and can apply that to my medical and other personnel and adjust what I say accordingly to get the best treatment I can or run when that's patently not available as in the original poster's situation.

Fresia, I'm sorry you had to go through such an unprof. experience.

I worked as a medical tech to a poditrist and once in a while I would say something (in stead of keeping my mouth shut!) to the patient if they would ask me a question about their condition. Man, the doc would call me aside and let me know that my words were unprofessional, and that both he and I could be in big trouble for me 'practicing medicine' without a license!

I know that is a little different from your experience, but that mammo tech had no business saying what she did to you. She was practicing medicine without a license for sure as well. As well as being very rude and judgemental! No room for that in medicine.

Good job sticking up for yourself.

Update:

I received a letter yesterday from the facility. They thanked me "for my continued services" at their facility and "for being a valued support in bringing to their attention the needs of their patients". They were "disheartened by the recent incident and exchange with their staff, which did not reflect the values of the organization." They have "addressed the concerns brought about by this incident with direct and mandatory personnel retraining" for the staff member involved and the facility. They will maintain "an environment in which all patients be accorded confidential and respective care."

What most surprised me is that I never did anything following that day; I never sent a letter or made any calls. They followed up internally following the incident. Despite knowing one person does not make a facility (even though can reflect upon it), and despite using this for all of my testing needs and ER care, it still was an encouraging and impressive response.

Wonderful and how validating for you! You deserve to be treated with respect Fresia!

Yeah, but running out to the lobby in your schmock probably got their attention! NOBODY does that at those places, it's usually such a maze back there so you can't even get out on purpose, let alone by accident. You did a good and great thing. You're like the Rosa Parks of The Pill!

Oh, thanks everyone and Hankster for that, too funny and still laughing especially with that in mind they probably thought, 'we better do something especially now about that crazy, naked lady, who knows what she'll do for an encore.'