Illegal or just unethical?

Question

I had a physical exam today, when it came time for the hernia exam
"turn your head and cough" the doctor did not use a gloved hand. I know using a glove is part of standard accepted medical practices, but is it required by law ?

Answer 1

Actually neither illegal or unethical... just a little disgusting.

The practice of wearing gloves is actually to protect the doctor from infection and contamination, not really to protect the patient. It is common practice for most physicians to use universal protection (i.e. gloves) whenever examining certain... um... parts just for sanitary reasons. In years before HIV, most examination was done without gloves but followed by thorough hand washing. In the post-HIV world, fear drives everyone to be a little more cautious and justifiably and thankfully so.

Answer 2

Ugh. Sounds gross to me.

The legality of it probably depends on the laws in the state where you are (or had the exam).

I don't understand a doc who wouldn't use a glove. Surely the modern day glove available to doctors is thin enough to detect lumps and other "features" of the area being examined. And what if he had sharp fingernails? There could have been some teensy little scratches left on your, ahem, "delicate area". What if the doc had an open wound on his fingertips, cuticles, etc?

It's too late to do anything about your recent exam now, of course, but you are certainly within your rights, as a patient, to have a notation made on your chart that you demand that the doc wear gloves next time he/she performs this (or any other) examination on you. If they refuse, find another doctor.

Hope the exam revealed that you are in good health!

Answer 3

Palpation for herniae when you cough does not usually require the use of gloves since it is only on the surface of the body (unless you had an open sore at the area, then gloves would certainly be required).

Any examination that requires sticking a finger into a mucosal orifice, such the mouth, vagina or anus ( for rectal and prostate) requires gloves - this may reduce the sensitivity of the examiner but is necessary for protection of both the doctor and the patient.

Answer 4

Dr Goodhi is obviously not a physician, as her answer is wrong. Administering an ungloved hernia or prostate exam is perfectly normal. I would guess that your doc was an older one, as this practice was common back in the days before STD's. And you must remember: the gloves docs wear are to protect you from bacterial infection, which is hardly an issue when he is touching the inside of your rectum. Many docs say the gloves hinder their sensitivity, and thus the ability to diagnose properly in such exams.

Answer 5

Gloves are not required by either law or ethics. These days, everything has to be "latex free" and non-latex gloves are crap. It can be very hard to feel things through vinyl or nitrile. Necessary, of course, in certain situations, where blood or body fluids are involved, but not on intact skin.

Were your testicles covered in something that could not be washed off his hand?

If it bothers you, OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND TELL THE DOCTOR! He's not a mind reader.

Answer 6

Neither.

Unless you or the doctor have a communicable disease there is no need for a glove, clinically, ethically, or legally. In fact, the ungloved finger is better able to appreciate the subtle bulge of the hernia at the inguinal ring.

There is no penetration of an orifice, and no contact with a mucous membrane.

Answer 7

No rule against it, much less a law, but unsanitary, and not good practice. I certainly hope he washed his hands afterwards. Actually, there are very few laws about specifics in medical practice as legislatures don't have the expertise to judge. Medical boards have regulations, but for the most part, they're not this specific, either.

Answer 8

i would think it would be illegal for sanitary reasons..protects the doctor so why wouldnt you want to use one ya know???lol...i have never been to a doc who didnt wear gloves..however i am a woman...hubby tell me every year he had to get physical for work they wore gloves for that examination..its something i think you need to bring up to someone at the practice and you can always check the laws to make sure its a legality not an ethical thing.

Answer 9

The reason they wear gloves it to prevent the spread of germs and infection from one patient to another or from transmitting something from an open wound on him or you. It isn't against the law unless he knowingly gave or transmitted something to you during the contact. You have every right as a patient to demand the physician to wear gloves during your visits regardless if it is for your comfort level or for sanitary reasons.

Answer 10

Unethical. Why didn't you ask him to wear a glove?