What was going through this lab tech's mind?

Question

Today, I had to get a full spinal x-ray of my back. I went to the lab to get it done, and when they did, they made my mom and i fill out a form stating that I wasn't pregnant. I thought it was a little weird since I'm only 13, but I went with it. When I handed back the form, they said they didn't believe me when I said I wasn't pregnant or sexually active. They said I couldn't get my x-ray and to come back when I was on my period. But I needed that x-ray. It was very important. Finally, my mom persuaded them to do a pregnancey test, which came back negative. Only then did they give me the x-ray. But if they did refuse to give me the x-ray until I was on my period, I could have gotten seriously hurt, more than I already was. What's up with this? My mother and I signed a form to say I wasn't pregnant!

Answer 1

It's common to ask any female within child-bearing age about pregnancy whenever there is a risk of exposing the unborn baby to damaging substances (such as radiation of an x-ray or CT). The form you signed protects the facility, if in fact, you are pregnant, and you have a miscarriage, or some peculair abnormalities to your baby once he/she is born. After you've signed the consent for the test, though -- the radiographer should accept your word -- do the test. If you lied, and you ARE pregnant -- the baby will be visible (if it's begun to grow) on the x-ray, anyway -- then he could smack you -- but, his behavior was inappropriate, and I'd call the facility administrator, and bust some butt.

Answer 2

It is usually policy in hospitals and outpatient center before performing xrays, cat scans or mri's to obtain a negative pregnancy
test.
I am a nurse in an ER and a surgical center. We test everyone of childbearing age before we perform surgery or do any xrays.

However I do not understand why you were treated the way you were if your mother signed papers stating you were not pregnant it releases the facility from any liabiility should it turn out that you were indeed pregnant.

Also I do not ask questions like that with a parent in the room.

Answer 3

Thats not on ,the technician was out of line and should be reported to administration. All he had to do was to get you to sign the form saying you were not pregnant and that would take responsibility away from the hospital if you were found to be pregnant. Were they woorried that you might not want to admit to this in front of your mum, if so it still should not have mattered as long as the form was signed.

Answer 4

That Tech was Way out of line. Call and complain to the head of the lab. Then to your Dr. Then to the Director of Nursing Services. Then to the Hospital Administrator. A Tech refusing to do you test because he doesn't believe you is total Bullshit and he needs to be slapped, HARD! Make a stink.

Answer 5

You should report it to the administrators of the hospital or lab where this happened. Be sure to point out about signing the form.

Answer 6

X-rays are harmful to a fetus and they want to be sure you aren't pregnant before they do anything. They were just doing that for the safety of the fetus (even though there wasn't one).

That really sucks though. I would have been pissed.

Answer 7

They have to protect there backside,and maybe that of an unborn. You know if you are active, people dont, And really if it came down to it, not even your mom knows for sure. Its the way things are nowdays, c.y.o.a.

Answer 8

does your belly have a little bulge, maybe? im not trying to be mean, honey, but as women sometimes we get a little bulge there when we're approaching that time of the month-thats all I can think of that would make them question just by looking at you.