Medical chaperones during intimate exams

Has any male patient ever had a male chaperone present during an exam if the doctor is a female? There's usually a female nurse present during an examination of a female if the doctor is a male. Why not the reverse?

My doctor is a woman and has been working with a male nurse for some time now, but I've never had a chaperone. I think I would like it regardless of the gender of the chaperone.

I've never had the luck of having a female doctor---wish I did!

Happened to me. she wanted to check out things down there so called for a chaperon and i got the male one! i was told to drop my pants, noticed he is directly looking at me, so i stood and turned my back to him and dropped the pants. i wouldn't mind him looking at me but at that moment just felt like doing that!

The only time, as an adult, I've got a chaperone, while having a doctor examine my genitals, was when I visited my female urologist for the first time. It was a rather ackward experience to have him tell me to drop my pants and lie on the examination table, then covering me with a kind of paper drape (don't know what for, since it was translucent), and then having him look at my privates as the doctor examined them.

I don't know if it would be any better with a female, though. I'd rather not have any chaperone at all, I think.

I have had a female nurse present with a male doctor, but the one physical I had by a female doctor there was no one else present.

I have had a male chaperone present when with a female doctor. Other female doctors I've seen have done genital exams without a chaperone present. Seems to vary depending on the doctor.

I am male and my doctor is female. There has never been a chaperone present. To the best of my knowledge, her entire staff is female so if there was a chaperone, it would likely be a female as well. I don't really feel the need to have a chaperone so I would prefer if there was not one present.

Funny situation: I went to have a sonogram of my testicles. The female sonographer, my partner, and a woman chaperone were present in the exam room. The chaperone sat in the corner and read a book seemingly taking no notice of my exposed genitals. I felt it odd that I had three woman present for this procedure.

No I didn't have a male chaperone the one time I was examined by a female doctor.

Yes, I had another male present during a urological exam. He was actually a med school student interested in urology. It was quite a turn on for me to have this VGL young guy standing in the corner of the room watching everything.

I've been examined by several female doctors and never had a chaperone - male or female.

My last female doctor was my pediatrician, and even then, after my mom or dad stopped coming in with me (13 or 14 or so?), I never had a chaperone in the room with me.

Seems like a double standard, but most guys probably don't mind enough to make any issue about it

I've never had a male chaperone nor would I want one.

In prisons male physicians have a male chaperone with them when examining male patients. The prison population being what it is, (offenders), the MD has to protect himself from charges of sexual mistreatment. Offenders love to cause trouble and will take advantage of any opportunity to bring charges against authority figures.

I saw a female dermatologist about 10 years ago for a skin cancer screening and to take a look at a Keloid looking scar on my leg. I was led back to the exam room by a young man in scrubs. He identified himself as Doctor Carxxx's nurse. I told him why I was there and of the thing on my leg. He gave me a gown and told me to take everything off; gown open in the back then he left the room. The doctor came in a short while later and talked to we for a few minutes and then stuck her head out of the door to summon her nurse. He came in and she performed a head to toe exam using my gown to keep me covered except when she examined my genitals and when she had me stand so she could check between my butt cheeks and under my testicles. The nurse just sort of stood back by the counter and took notes of what the doctor's findings were. I didn't watch him all the time but he seemed very occupied trying to keep up with the doctors running narrative.

My only experience with a chaperone was with a female doctor during my annual work physical. I am always instructed to strip to my underwear and given a paper drape. The female doctor then arrives and begins the physical with reviewing the labs and physical examination to include listening to my chest, palpating my abdomen, checking lymph nodes to include groin, etc. When it is time to check for hernias and the rectal exam, she calls in one of the female nurses that work in the office. The nurse will arrive and take the paper drape and in some manner hide or attempt to make me feel that she is hiding behind it while the doctor examines my penis, testicles, and check for hernia. Not sure what they are accomplishing but I guess it makes the doctor feel better.

Usually a female chaperone only because most nurses and PAs are female. But, I have had a male chaperone on a couple of occasions - really not much difference between male or female chaperone. They are there to protect both the patient and the doctor and generally either busy themselves with note taking or by "cleaning up" some of the medical stuff in the exam room. Generally they did not directly observe as that was not there function.

I have never had anyone other than me and my doctor in the exam room with me. although i do wish someone would come in

I have had two male medical students sit in on two physical exams. My doctor, at the time but now retired, always had medical students from the local teaching hospital "in house" several months throughout the year. The first time this happened my doctor let the med student give me a complete physical exam as he watched. After the med student finished my doctor did some basic follow-up. On the second occasion, the med student watched ONLY as my doctor did a complete physical exam. Both times I gave my doctor permission to let the med students sit in. However, on both occasions I did ask if the med student was male or female. Both being male I complied but I would have refused had the student been a female. Actually, I do not think the doctor would have requested me to allow this had the med student been a female. I thought it kind of cool being completely naked and standing before two medical professionals in a small exam room.

I have had my best friend with me at the doctors office. but thats it.

Most of the time, I don't have a chaperone at all. But it does depend on the doctor and the reason for the visit. When a chaperone was present, it's usually female. For example, when I see my female dermatologist for a full body skin check -- she always uses a female chaperone. For my last complete physical, I saw a fairly new female doctor at the practice -- I had been seeing a female NP. She offered to bring in a chaperone when she was getting ready to do the genital and prostate exam, but I declined. She said that was probably a good decision, since there were no males at all in the practice and the chaperone would have been female! Perhaps I missed an opportunity to have another female watch my exam.

I can think of only one time when I had a male chaperone for a female doctor. That was one time when I went to a doc-in-the-box type of place for a sports-type physical. I brought my own home-made exam form and the doctor felt that because it was so involved, she wanted the chaperone. It was a young male nurse and he just stood in one corner of the exam room while she did the genital and prostate exam. I remember noticing that he was actually watching my exam rather than busying himself with something else in the room. It was kind of a neat experience standing in front of the female doctor with my shorts around my ankles and having this strange man watch as she examined my manhood.

I have never had a chaperone when examined by s male or female doctor. In my practice male patients never have chaperones when examined by female doctors. When I examine female patients in the gyn room of course I always have s chaperone. They always assist me with cultures and handing me supplies.

My male cardiologist uses a female medical assistant to type notes during the visit, but there's no exposure, so it's just assistance.

My female dermatology NP has female staff with her but they mostly chart and assist with biopsies.

When I read the original post, I initially thought it an odd question. However, seeing liquidsky's response, I now get it. Or I think I do.

It seems we have a double standard in the US. So what's new? Male patients don't get (need?) chaperones while female patients do, especially if they are seeing a male doctor. No, I'm not going to get on my soap box about the double standard. Instead, I'm going to raise a companion question.

I understand the issue of liability, and the need for a witness in some situations. I'm sure that there have been instances of doctors acting improperly with patients, and I'm sure there have been occasions of false accusations, for whatever reason.

My question is this, though rare, which is more common, a doctor acting improperly with a female patient, or a female patient falsely accusing her doctor?

I never had a chaperone as a child during doctor's appointments as my mother always went with me to the exam room. I started seeking care at an adolescent medicine specialist at age 14. During the first appointment we had a conversation about my transition into adulthood. She informed me how important it was for me to start accepting a greater responsibility in managing my health and the importance of having one on one time and that my mother really needed to remain in the waiting room. She had also had given me the option of a chaperone if I was feeling uncomfortable in various states of undress but she was a kind, decent and caring doctor. After a few years with my current doctor she asked me if I wanted a chaperone for future visits. I looked at my watch and said "3 years...I think this question is running a little late." She said it boils down to 3 reasons. 1- A patient who does not want a chaperone. She felt I was in that category but she should have asked anyhow. 2- Somebody who is nervous and needs a chaperone. 3- The occasional patient who has a propensity towards inappropriate behavior or conduct where a doctor should have a witness present for the doctor's own protection.

When my female Dermatologist does my yearly full body check, she ALWAYS has a female assistant present. The assistant usually does nothing, or may take notes on her laptop. In today's litigious society, it's a wise decision by physicians to do so.

My question is this, though rare, which is more common, a doctor acting improperly with a female patient, or a female patient falsely accusing her doctor?

While I have no data to back me up, I'm absolutely sure that false accusations far outnumber actual abuse. Much of the impression a patient gets about a doctor is subjective. A doctor could say something completely innocent and be misunderstood by the patient, ruining the professional relationship.

If the visit involves any sex organ or system, professional touch could be misconstrued by the ignorant patient as something else. Maybe the new doctor conducts the exam differently - still ethical. The patient could take that to be something else.

An example of this is in another thread - does the doctor touch your nipples? Pinching the nipples to observe discharge is a normal part of the exam. Let's say this is your first time... Ethical or perverted?

I'm with Jds. I don't have any data but cases of sexual misconduct by doctors are causes célèbre but are few. I suspect that false accusations are more common. I don't know of any of my partners or fellow docs who have been accused. It is after all pretty much the kiss of death.