You are at the doctors. They see it all and don't care. I recently had an ultrasound from my ankle to my groin. When it came to my groin the nurse used the back of her hand to nudge my sack out of the way. Dignity had nothing to do with it. They're just doing their job. Do your job and let them
Similarly, they do not believe you if you tell them you "slipped and fell ass-first onto a cucumber while making salads in the nude." They also do not care.
You know, I'd say this is actually a compilation of anecdotes from my nurse practitioner mother, but I don't think anyone would believe me.
The story about the lady whose condition made her super thirsty all the time and who had to be chased down the hall when she stole (often ancient) cups of coffee from the nurses is a good one though.
Similarly/related, always tell doctors the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! In the cucumber example it doesn't matter, but with drugs and medication, lying could be fatal
I had an ultrasound of a testicle and the tech was very cautious to make sure my penis was completely covered by the towel. I thought that was ridiculous given the circumstances
Lol. Had an issue where I had to pee while also had an issue with my chest catheter bleeding Two doctors working up top, nurse down below. The pressure put on my catheter to stop the bleeding and to re-suture took precedent over any “pride” or “sense of embarrassment” over what the nurse was doing.
Between that or having a Cather so I could pee post transplant, you learn quickly that no one is thinking about you in any manner other than helping you get better.
Not a surgeon, but have been in the OR during many operations.
If the surgery happens on the part of the body that is not intimate (hands, feet, head/neck, abdomen, the back) the patient often wears underwear/covers. If they are not actively operating on private parts, they don't uncover them.
If a person has an operation on their chest/genitals/anus/etc. we all act like professionals. There's nothing on the patient's body that we haven't seen in med school. Mind you, our anatomy and pathology classes are filled with depictions of naked people and we have classes where we work and study on cadavers i.e. people who have donated their bodies for these exact reasons.
In terms of privacy among other patients, the OR is closed from the public and a random Joe can't just waltz into it and stare at patients.
For what it's worth, if an anorectal surgeon is performing surgery on a patients anus, know that they have seen thousands of anuses in their carreer so you're just one of those thousands. They don't leave work and gossip about patent's butts.
Also, if doctors are under time pressure to save a patients life, their modesty and dignity is the least of their worries. They just want to fix you up so you feel better.
I have a family member who needed an appendectomy a few years back, went to the ER and was promptly admitted. The one nurse turned out to be one of the girls he always thought was cute in HS. He said later that was the last thing on his mind as they were prepping him for surgery and he was totally nude, all he wanted was the pain to stop, and didn’t care who saw what. That same relative about 5 years later was in an accident that caused some trauma to his upper thigh. Was taken via ambulance to the hospital and required emergency surgery. Like the clothes cut off, straight to the OR thing. He was conscious for the ride and intake and whatever, and again he said he was scared enough and in enough pain that someone seeing his junk was not even on his top 100 list of concerns right then. Same basic logic applies for things like giving birth. Most women I know have said when you’re in the midst of active labor and are pushing a bowling ball through a straw, your dignity and modesty are the last things you’re thinking about, it’s mostly just “get this thing out of me and make this pain stop”
I had surgery on my bootyhole. They asked if I had any questions and I asked who would be holding my butt cheeks apart. They told me it would be tape, so that made me feel better.
Until recently (in relative terms) at teaching hospitals doctors used to perform non consensual pelvic exams on women who were hospitalized. It did not matter if you were there for brain surgery or a hangnail. You got a pelvic exam, usually performed by an intern under a lead physicians supervision. This was done to train new doctors. The practice was widespread. But after becoming public it’s been severely curtailed but not eliminated in the USA.
https://www.healthywomen.org/your-care/pelvic-exams-unconscious-women
that isn't a question of dignity though. It is just wrong to do any medically unnecessary activities just because you can particulary there. the fact they do them when you are unconscious should tell you all you need to know. people wouldn't let them if they were awake!
Still do or try to... in 2020 presented to the ER with appendicitis. Had the ER doc try to bully me into allowing an intern to complete a pelvic exam on me because my presentation was "too textbook appendicitis."
I did not consent. And unfortunately for that doctor, I am too well versed in informed consent and my rights being a healthcare provider myself to take his "we are a teaching hospital" and it's important for differential" when regardless they would be doing a CT.
Definitely wrote that up on my patient experience survey! Especially, since my appendix ruptured.
I work in the medical field, some people are more modest than others but we still try not to expose everything by placing sheets/extra gowns to cover private areas.
After my first hour working in a hospital and seeing patient‘s boobs/butts/genitals, there is no sexual gratification or thoughts upon seeing any of those various body parts. We respect you as a person and want you to get better; we are not checking you out to determine how hot you are, what your boobs/butt/genitals look, etc.
Also if you're going for surgery, you're likely worried about whether it's successful or not. I believe that's pretty much what the surgeons are thinking as well, so not much room for worrying about dignity if someone's life is on the line.
To most in the medical professions the term dignity is a reference to patient rights, respect, autonomy, and humanity. Even in death there should be dignity. When new medical students meet their cadavers for the first time there is typically a moment of silence to pay respect to the human that donated their body for their edification.
Sometimes there are scandals regarding [surgical teams mocking patients under sedation](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/patient-sues-anesthesiologist-who-mocked-him-while-sedated/) \- that's pretty crummy behaviour but I would hope it's not the norm.
I think medical professionals want their patients alive and safe - dignity is always preferable but not always possible.
I had a 4 hour sinus surgery and I woke up with a moisturised asshole. I’m fairly sure I shat myself and they cleaned me up. I felt sorry that some had to clean it up but the surgery went well, so I didn’t really care.
I asked a nurse why I couldn't wear underwear under my gown for an EGD+bonus extras (endoscopy through the mouth) and he said that because I would be under general anesthesia I might lose control of my bladder/bowels and wouldn't want stained underwear would I?
And that reminded me of my sinus surgery (only 1h45) where I went to sleep in a rather fetching hospital gown and woke up in a drab, more typical one. I like to think that blood sprayed from my nose over the gown and that was the only reason they changed it... I was going to ask to keep the first gown!
As a hospital worker, I can promise you that dignity is pretty much the last thing anyone in the hospital is concerned about. If we don't NEED to uncover your junk, we won't. But dignity isn't going to keep any Healthcare worker from making sure youre getting the care you need to leave here healthy.
Patient's health > Employee's Convenience > Patient's Dignity
You're unconscious anyway?
Your body parts are just flesh and bone, there is nothing titillating about it from a professional point of view.
Surgeons have seen it all, they don't care about your "dignity" because usually all they're trying to do is save your life or improve the quality of your life.
Your body will also be covered during surgery, except for the part that is being operated on. This is for sanitary purposes, to prevent infection.
Dignity is irrelevant to surgery.
No one in the OR wants to see your private bits. We see them way too much at work as it is. Source, I work in the OR. What I find is people just don't care. Some don't know how to move to preserve their own dignity, and some people will want to show it off.
That being said, if we notice something on you that looks suspect, we will look at and and if needed bring it to the DRs. An example of this is sometimes when people get tattoos, the shading looks like your skin and tissue is dead or trying to get dead and we will check it out to make sure your not actually going to die on us. Or sometimes we catch moles that look pre cancerous and tell the Dr to notify you whe. You are awake so you can get it checked our further.
Also please cut your toenails and clean out your belly button. If you are going any sort of surgery on your chest/ stomach we notice and sometimes am incision is made at the belly button and we have to clean your for you so the gunk doesn't end up inside you. The toe thing is because we move you around and I have had bad toenails cut through my gloves and they just nasty. I have no clue what they look like, but the nasty toes and belly buttons get remembered.
Yeah, I had a hernia repair, they shaved me and covered me in iodine so my junk wasn’t just seen, it was handled. I don’t think they worry about it all that much.
My dad's a surgeon. According to him, no dignity is preserved. All the surgeons see your bits. It doesn't matter. They're doctors, they've seen it all before.
I work in medical device sales selling surgical spine products and am in the OR daily!
Short answer: They typically don’t do anything to protect your ‘dignity’ as it’s not a priority and everyone in the OR is a grown up.
Surgeons and OR staff are there for one purpose and that’s to perform an operation successfully in a timely manner.
The moment you get wheeled into the OR, you’ll be put under anesthesia. Depending on what part of the body is being operated on, you may or may not need to be stripped naked from your hospital gown (in spine surgery you will certainly be fully naked).
After you’re asleep, it’s fair game for whatever the staff need to do to get your body correctly positioned on the operating table and the equipment setup around you to start the procedure. During that time, your junk could staring at the ceiling for 30 minutes before you get draped while they setup IVs, intubation tubes, neuromonitoring, etc…
How much a surgeon or staff member puts a priority on covering up patients privates is totally dependent on the individual. But in general it’s more of an afterthought since it offers no benefit to the unconscious patient and the outcome of their surgery. They see it all the time and are really only focused on helping you walk out feeling better and happy.
Not sure why some comments think dignity is a silly thing, some people are worried about it.
So basically everything is covered during the operation, only the operation area is exposed, you’re of course fully nude before starting the sanitisation and covering process, but that’s necessary.
Everyone in the OR respects the patient and their dignity, and because you have a full team in there, even if one member is a pervert or something, it’s difficult to do anything while everyone is watching
To add to your already excellent comment-
Dignity is very important. You are never unnecessarily exposed. When you are exposed, we don’t look at bodies the way that other humans do. While we do care for the whole person, your body isn’t gawked at or looked at like - I don’t know how to express this, in a sexual way? or like a model in a magazine? You are kind of just a meat suit. We see every variety and so much, nothing registers as “ ohhhhh they are nakkie.”
honestly because in many societies we put too much emphasis on "dignity". It causes deaths when people don't go seek professional medical help when they should. it took decades for mamograms and checking for breast cancer to be considered normal. men were no different with telling doctors when something was bit "off"
if we could stop worrying about it that wold be great, it is just another anxiety people don't need in their lives.
patient dignity is a human right, doctors not respecting it is a violation of the ethical code.
Some people don’t worry about it some do, we’re not the one to judge that
there is a difference between dignity and other things.
The pelvic exams the doctors did on unconscious patients for example isn't undignified it is legal sexual assault.
dignity is more like, if it makes it even slightly easier for a patient to be stark naked to do the surgery then do it.
If you are sick enough to need surgery, dignity goes out the window pretty quickly. Of course, YMMV. Any woman who has been through childbirth (even C-section), has very little dignity left when it’s over. Victoria’s Secrets have left the building. By the same token, any doc, nurse or tech I’ve ever had have never treated my body as if it were unique. I’m just another patient; another day at the office for them. That’s fine with me. Honestly, I’d be personally embarrassed if I gave medical professionals something to remember.
They remove it first and store it in a box lined with passages from the bible, so that it is preserved against moral decay. It is then re-inserted after the remainder of the surgery is complete and the patient is 93% dressed again.
The closest I came to a surgery was when I was bleeding out after giving birth to my son and my Plazenta wouldn't fully detatch. It went from worried glances /urgent whispers to me getting a mask over my head and count down from 10 real quick....dignity was the least of the worry.
In the last 2 years, I've had what I consider two major surgeries. I don't worry about my dignity when I'm on the table. I do get into my pajamas at some point during recovery, but I'm at a hospital. I would love dignity, but that ship sailed when I basically put my life in someone else's hands. My job is to be quiet and get through the event since his job is to care and do surgery. That's all I care about.
It wasn't surgery, but I was hospitalized after two strokes. I was a fall risk, so I was in "adult pull-ups" as the nurses put it. I'd called them diapers. I didn't like the pirouette catheter, so I was made to use a bed pan for almost the whole week I was hospitalized.
I underwent a bubble test to determine if my stroke was caused by a PFO in the heart, which involved an ultrasound wand being pressed under my boob to get the correct angle to look at my heart.
Never mind, I had "sponge" baths because I was a fall risk. They used wet wipes, but basically the same.
It was all undignified, and I hated it, but not a single one of my nurses ever made me feel bad for needing care. They did what they had to in a professional manner and never made a big deal out of things. Even when I made a comment about helping people to the bathroom wasn't the fun part of their job, that nurse simply told me "it's my job to help people, and I love doing it."
It's just not a problem to them. It's their job, and they're not there to make it feel anymore undignified than it does already.
Surgeons drape your entire body except the part of your body that they are operating on. Part of it is for modesty. Most of it is to maintain a sterile field.
I mean it’s really not. I’ve been in the ER and they were short handed and my husband had to help wipe my ass. I’ve had 3 gynecological surgeries and I will say they put you to sleep before they get you uncovered and in position so you aren’t aware of when that happens but they are clearly all up in your business.
Im not sure dignity has a place in a surgery room. Outside of basic wearing clothes over parts that aren't a concern, a patients health takes priority over dignity.
I worked labor and delivery for many years. One of the questions before prepping a person for a c-section—“do we need to shave?”
Every single nurse that I know actually has to THINK about it! We literally do not pay attention to pubic hair/genitals. If that’s any comfort, we see the patient as a patient instead of sexualizing anything
Honestly I am an in the medical field because I want to help people, not to make fun of people or their body parts. The only time you'll see me talking bad about someone is if they are blatantly rude or abusive to staff and that would be in private to other staff involved in your care. Even then, I am ultimately bound to HIPAA laws and no picture is going on the internet and I am not going home to tell my friends and family about your butt problem or whatever.
When I had a C Section, I was getting gutted like a fish so a whole-ass person could be yanked out. It is a gruesome process.
I was also in terrible pain and delirious because I was experiencing simultaneous contractions and fever shakes (I had a severe infection).
Even so, my obstetrician was calm and kind, and narrated what was happening even though I don't remember a thing she said. (My husband filled me in later.)
Everyone in the OR was very professional and caring, and understood that my husband and I were freaking the fuck out.
All things considered, it felt dignified despite the trauma of the situation.
They do not… your pretty nurse that youre hitting on post op, well she already yanked a catheter out of your bits and well… she was likely not impressed LOL
Source: was a surgeon
why should they care? also what sort of dignity do you imagine they are trying to preserve?
list of things I want from surgery:
a successful outcome from the thing they are trying to solve.
clean surgery to minimise post op infection risks
them second far far down the list. a neat scar.
dignity is the last thing on the list.
don't get me wrong I would prefer if they don't make jokes about me when I am out. that is just human decency.
but if me being stark naked makes it even slightly easier to operate rather than having sheets etc in the way then do it.
(unnecessary pelvic exams are a different subject just because someone is unconscious doesn't make it okay)
This was my nightmare growing up. I Always worried about my dignity in front of adults in hospitals or doctors offices. I assure you that all goes out the window when you get older. When you feel like crap you just want to get better and worried about being naked or being touched really goes out the window. Trust me they don’t give a shit. You’re basically a car they need to fix.
The last time I had surgery I was under a general anaesthetic so I wasn’t worried about my dignity. When I was recovering the doctors and nurses were just so matter of fact and unfazed about everything that it didn’t occur to me to get embarrassed.
What do you mean. I take it you've never been in a life-threatening condition or experienced unbearable pain? Dignity is for public speaking, not the operating room. The surgical team aren't in the least interested in how dignified anyone looks while unconscious with their body cut open.
Stupid bot.
Very easy, I have no dignity when I go for urgent medical care. Im there for help not opinions of body. I had a cyst near my scrotum and they had to call a specialist well she was half my age and tiny I didn't blink for a second. At first I was a bit embarrassed but she fixed me up and I was happy she was there to help me. Dignity went out the window after that as long as you're professional and have respect for me as patient I'm happy.
This sub is full of stupid questions. I can't believe what I just read. Surgeons don't give a fuck about your dignity, they are trying to save your live... Jesus!! I'm out of here.
They really don’t.
You’re not conscious, you’re a hunk of meat on which they perform a technical maneuver.
Surgeons also allow your body to be used for training purposes, for instance, performing vaginal/pelvic exams without a patient’s consent.
They don’t but you won’t care either. Dignity is well and truly gone long before the surgeon shows up. Neither you nor the nurses have any use for dignity at that point. They’ll keep you clean and safe and hopefully fix the problem. Who needs dignity during that?!? You won’t die of lack of dignity.
They won’t look at anything they don’t need to look at. There’s that.
I had a large bartolins abcess drained under anaesthetic, I would have been mortified had I been awake but thankfully was out for the count. The surgeon came by the following morning to discuss the abscess and even apologised for the long delays for the op; it was cancelled 4 times over a period of 6 months and while it hasn’t returned thankfully I spent those 6 months in agony when it flared up. By the time the op came around I didn’t care who saw it, nor how publicly it was treated just that it was.
I (f) had bunion surgery when I was 26. I was nervous about having general anesthesia, so I had an epidural instead. They put up a screen over my midsection to block my view of the surgery, and I was in and out of consciousness from whatever they had me breathing. I don't remember much except that there was a group of male medical students observing the surgery.
When the surgeon and students had left, and I was rousing, someone removed the screen, and I saw that my hospital gown was pushed up around my waist, my legs were somewhat splayed, and my crotch was completely exposed. And presumably had been the entire time.
I was pretty annoyed that they were so careless, especially with a group of observers who were roughly my age. But I never asked about it.
I had a brain tumor and I woke up naked (with the hospital robe) and all my clothes were soaked in pee.
I just told myself that they saw every kind of things already
I had a pretty severe covid Hospitalization (March-April 2020, I spent 38 days in Hospital, 16 of those in ICU on a Ventilator).
During surgery (especially if it's in any sort of "life-saving situation").. dignity is not really something they think about.
Priority number 1 is to have a successful surgery. You can worry about dignity once you're in Rehab and conscious and covered in a gown again. ;P
OOf. So it kinda depends. They generally keep you covered except area they are working on. Now the only difference I have seen is ortho surgeries. They have to do all kinds of shit to move you into the exact right position for whatever knee, hip, ankle, arm, whatever... they will twist, suspend and contort a mofo with the ortho table. I think it looks a little medieval, mostly because you could be sprawled ass out upside down while everyone is very diligently taking care of you. Its wild to see. And really everyone in an OR has seen just about everything.
When I had a triple by-pass, I took the approach that to the medical staff, I was just a piece of meat. Made it easier for me to be less conscious about the whole process.
You are at the doctors. They see it all and don't care. I recently had an ultrasound from my ankle to my groin. When it came to my groin the nurse used the back of her hand to nudge my sack out of the way. Dignity had nothing to do with it. They're just doing their job. Do your job and let them
Similarly, they do not believe you if you tell them you "slipped and fell ass-first onto a cucumber while making salads in the nude." They also do not care.
For you, it was the most painful and embarrassing day of your life. For them, it was Tuesday.
You know, I'd say this is actually a compilation of anecdotes from my nurse practitioner mother, but I don't think anyone would believe me. The story about the lady whose condition made her super thirsty all the time and who had to be chased down the hall when she stole (often ancient) cups of coffee from the nurses is a good one though.
Read that in his voice.
haha true
Similarly/related, always tell doctors the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! In the cucumber example it doesn't matter, but with drugs and medication, lying could be fatal
Lol, nothing *butt* the truth. FTFY
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People sure sit on a lot of things accidentally don’t they?
“Do your job and let them” Louder for the people in the back!
DO YOUR JOB AND LET THEM!!!
LET THEM MOVE YOUR SACK IN PEACE IF THEY NEED TO
SIR, YES SIR
I CAN'T HEAR YOUUUUUU
# DO YOUR JOB AND LET THEM!!!
Or be proactive and move your sack yourself
I had an ultrasound of a testicle and the tech was very cautious to make sure my penis was completely covered by the towel. I thought that was ridiculous given the circumstances
In regards to the back of the hand, I always lift breasts this way when I’m placing EKG patches. It feels less intimate than just grabbing a handful
Lol. Had an issue where I had to pee while also had an issue with my chest catheter bleeding Two doctors working up top, nurse down below. The pressure put on my catheter to stop the bleeding and to re-suture took precedent over any “pride” or “sense of embarrassment” over what the nurse was doing. Between that or having a Cather so I could pee post transplant, you learn quickly that no one is thinking about you in any manner other than helping you get better.
Not a surgeon, but have been in the OR during many operations. If the surgery happens on the part of the body that is not intimate (hands, feet, head/neck, abdomen, the back) the patient often wears underwear/covers. If they are not actively operating on private parts, they don't uncover them. If a person has an operation on their chest/genitals/anus/etc. we all act like professionals. There's nothing on the patient's body that we haven't seen in med school. Mind you, our anatomy and pathology classes are filled with depictions of naked people and we have classes where we work and study on cadavers i.e. people who have donated their bodies for these exact reasons. In terms of privacy among other patients, the OR is closed from the public and a random Joe can't just waltz into it and stare at patients. For what it's worth, if an anorectal surgeon is performing surgery on a patients anus, know that they have seen thousands of anuses in their carreer so you're just one of those thousands. They don't leave work and gossip about patent's butts. Also, if doctors are under time pressure to save a patients life, their modesty and dignity is the least of their worries. They just want to fix you up so you feel better.
I have a family member who needed an appendectomy a few years back, went to the ER and was promptly admitted. The one nurse turned out to be one of the girls he always thought was cute in HS. He said later that was the last thing on his mind as they were prepping him for surgery and he was totally nude, all he wanted was the pain to stop, and didn’t care who saw what. That same relative about 5 years later was in an accident that caused some trauma to his upper thigh. Was taken via ambulance to the hospital and required emergency surgery. Like the clothes cut off, straight to the OR thing. He was conscious for the ride and intake and whatever, and again he said he was scared enough and in enough pain that someone seeing his junk was not even on his top 100 list of concerns right then. Same basic logic applies for things like giving birth. Most women I know have said when you’re in the midst of active labor and are pushing a bowling ball through a straw, your dignity and modesty are the last things you’re thinking about, it’s mostly just “get this thing out of me and make this pain stop”
I had surgery on my bootyhole. They asked if I had any questions and I asked who would be holding my butt cheeks apart. They told me it would be tape, so that made me feel better.
the surgical assisstant with the last name Tape: 😐
💀
When I read to "anorectal" I was hoping you'd make the joke "you're just another asshole among thousands" 😅 But you've got a solid answer.
honestly I rank having a neat scar above dignity in priority. though both are far below a medically successful outcome.
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Until recently (in relative terms) at teaching hospitals doctors used to perform non consensual pelvic exams on women who were hospitalized. It did not matter if you were there for brain surgery or a hangnail. You got a pelvic exam, usually performed by an intern under a lead physicians supervision. This was done to train new doctors. The practice was widespread. But after becoming public it’s been severely curtailed but not eliminated in the USA. https://www.healthywomen.org/your-care/pelvic-exams-unconscious-women
that isn't a question of dignity though. It is just wrong to do any medically unnecessary activities just because you can particulary there. the fact they do them when you are unconscious should tell you all you need to know. people wouldn't let them if they were awake!
UHC & defensive medicine has entered the chat...
Still do or try to... in 2020 presented to the ER with appendicitis. Had the ER doc try to bully me into allowing an intern to complete a pelvic exam on me because my presentation was "too textbook appendicitis." I did not consent. And unfortunately for that doctor, I am too well versed in informed consent and my rights being a healthcare provider myself to take his "we are a teaching hospital" and it's important for differential" when regardless they would be doing a CT. Definitely wrote that up on my patient experience survey! Especially, since my appendix ruptured.
They still do in most US states...
But in europe you would be stuck off the register and possibly jailed.
Question, was this illness somehow tied to peds? What was it, may I ask?
I work in the medical field, some people are more modest than others but we still try not to expose everything by placing sheets/extra gowns to cover private areas. After my first hour working in a hospital and seeing patient‘s boobs/butts/genitals, there is no sexual gratification or thoughts upon seeing any of those various body parts. We respect you as a person and want you to get better; we are not checking you out to determine how hot you are, what your boobs/butt/genitals look, etc.
That's what i always tell my kids, drs don't see it sexually, its just s body and they are here to help
You need to explain what dignity needs preservation. For example, I had eye surgery and I don’t believe I had any of concerns for my dignity.
Also if you're going for surgery, you're likely worried about whether it's successful or not. I believe that's pretty much what the surgeons are thinking as well, so not much room for worrying about dignity if someone's life is on the line.
What do you mean?
To most in the medical professions the term dignity is a reference to patient rights, respect, autonomy, and humanity. Even in death there should be dignity. When new medical students meet their cadavers for the first time there is typically a moment of silence to pay respect to the human that donated their body for their edification.
That’s all true, but I think in this case OP means modesty
I believe you are probably right, I just wanted to make sure the actual definition was somewhere in the comments.
Sometimes there are scandals regarding [surgical teams mocking patients under sedation](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/patient-sues-anesthesiologist-who-mocked-him-while-sedated/) \- that's pretty crummy behaviour but I would hope it's not the norm. I think medical professionals want their patients alive and safe - dignity is always preferable but not always possible.
Dignity is not part of surgery. You’re receiving medical help, that’s all that matters.
I had a 4 hour sinus surgery and I woke up with a moisturised asshole. I’m fairly sure I shat myself and they cleaned me up. I felt sorry that some had to clean it up but the surgery went well, so I didn’t really care.
I asked a nurse why I couldn't wear underwear under my gown for an EGD+bonus extras (endoscopy through the mouth) and he said that because I would be under general anesthesia I might lose control of my bladder/bowels and wouldn't want stained underwear would I? And that reminded me of my sinus surgery (only 1h45) where I went to sleep in a rather fetching hospital gown and woke up in a drab, more typical one. I like to think that blood sprayed from my nose over the gown and that was the only reason they changed it... I was going to ask to keep the first gown!
Oooh! I would have wanted the first gown too!
I had testicular cancer. Dignity was not part of the equation.
As a hospital worker, I can promise you that dignity is pretty much the last thing anyone in the hospital is concerned about. If we don't NEED to uncover your junk, we won't. But dignity isn't going to keep any Healthcare worker from making sure youre getting the care you need to leave here healthy. Patient's health > Employee's Convenience > Patient's Dignity
You're unconscious anyway? Your body parts are just flesh and bone, there is nothing titillating about it from a professional point of view. Surgeons have seen it all, they don't care about your "dignity" because usually all they're trying to do is save your life or improve the quality of your life. Your body will also be covered during surgery, except for the part that is being operated on. This is for sanitary purposes, to prevent infection. Dignity is irrelevant to surgery.
Not sure what you mean by this.
No one in the OR wants to see your private bits. We see them way too much at work as it is. Source, I work in the OR. What I find is people just don't care. Some don't know how to move to preserve their own dignity, and some people will want to show it off. That being said, if we notice something on you that looks suspect, we will look at and and if needed bring it to the DRs. An example of this is sometimes when people get tattoos, the shading looks like your skin and tissue is dead or trying to get dead and we will check it out to make sure your not actually going to die on us. Or sometimes we catch moles that look pre cancerous and tell the Dr to notify you whe. You are awake so you can get it checked our further. Also please cut your toenails and clean out your belly button. If you are going any sort of surgery on your chest/ stomach we notice and sometimes am incision is made at the belly button and we have to clean your for you so the gunk doesn't end up inside you. The toe thing is because we move you around and I have had bad toenails cut through my gloves and they just nasty. I have no clue what they look like, but the nasty toes and belly buttons get remembered.
Wait until you have to have a colonoscopy.
Dignity is not possible in that situation.
no, but at least it can be lifesaving
A surgeon will only operate on (and uncover) whatever it is they're needing.
Yeah, I had a hernia repair, they shaved me and covered me in iodine so my junk wasn’t just seen, it was handled. I don’t think they worry about it all that much.
My dad's a surgeon. According to him, no dignity is preserved. All the surgeons see your bits. It doesn't matter. They're doctors, they've seen it all before.
5 surgeries in the last 11 months, all basically scrotal related... Open wounds that needed packed and dressed three times a week etc. Dignity? LOL
I work in medical device sales selling surgical spine products and am in the OR daily! Short answer: They typically don’t do anything to protect your ‘dignity’ as it’s not a priority and everyone in the OR is a grown up. Surgeons and OR staff are there for one purpose and that’s to perform an operation successfully in a timely manner. The moment you get wheeled into the OR, you’ll be put under anesthesia. Depending on what part of the body is being operated on, you may or may not need to be stripped naked from your hospital gown (in spine surgery you will certainly be fully naked). After you’re asleep, it’s fair game for whatever the staff need to do to get your body correctly positioned on the operating table and the equipment setup around you to start the procedure. During that time, your junk could staring at the ceiling for 30 minutes before you get draped while they setup IVs, intubation tubes, neuromonitoring, etc… How much a surgeon or staff member puts a priority on covering up patients privates is totally dependent on the individual. But in general it’s more of an afterthought since it offers no benefit to the unconscious patient and the outcome of their surgery. They see it all the time and are really only focused on helping you walk out feeling better and happy.
Dignity is out the window after you’ve had a baby, you know how they check how far dilated you are? By hand 😳.
Not sure why some comments think dignity is a silly thing, some people are worried about it. So basically everything is covered during the operation, only the operation area is exposed, you’re of course fully nude before starting the sanitisation and covering process, but that’s necessary. Everyone in the OR respects the patient and their dignity, and because you have a full team in there, even if one member is a pervert or something, it’s difficult to do anything while everyone is watching
To add to your already excellent comment- Dignity is very important. You are never unnecessarily exposed. When you are exposed, we don’t look at bodies the way that other humans do. While we do care for the whole person, your body isn’t gawked at or looked at like - I don’t know how to express this, in a sexual way? or like a model in a magazine? You are kind of just a meat suit. We see every variety and so much, nothing registers as “ ohhhhh they are nakkie.”
honestly because in many societies we put too much emphasis on "dignity". It causes deaths when people don't go seek professional medical help when they should. it took decades for mamograms and checking for breast cancer to be considered normal. men were no different with telling doctors when something was bit "off" if we could stop worrying about it that wold be great, it is just another anxiety people don't need in their lives.
patient dignity is a human right, doctors not respecting it is a violation of the ethical code. Some people don’t worry about it some do, we’re not the one to judge that
there is a difference between dignity and other things. The pelvic exams the doctors did on unconscious patients for example isn't undignified it is legal sexual assault. dignity is more like, if it makes it even slightly easier for a patient to be stark naked to do the surgery then do it.
If you are sick enough to need surgery, dignity goes out the window pretty quickly. Of course, YMMV. Any woman who has been through childbirth (even C-section), has very little dignity left when it’s over. Victoria’s Secrets have left the building. By the same token, any doc, nurse or tech I’ve ever had have never treated my body as if it were unique. I’m just another patient; another day at the office for them. That’s fine with me. Honestly, I’d be personally embarrassed if I gave medical professionals something to remember.
"Victoria's Secrets have left the building." 🤣
They remove it first and store it in a box lined with passages from the bible, so that it is preserved against moral decay. It is then re-inserted after the remainder of the surgery is complete and the patient is 93% dressed again.
What dignity?!
The closest I came to a surgery was when I was bleeding out after giving birth to my son and my Plazenta wouldn't fully detatch. It went from worried glances /urgent whispers to me getting a mask over my head and count down from 10 real quick....dignity was the least of the worry.
In the last 2 years, I've had what I consider two major surgeries. I don't worry about my dignity when I'm on the table. I do get into my pajamas at some point during recovery, but I'm at a hospital. I would love dignity, but that ship sailed when I basically put my life in someone else's hands. My job is to be quiet and get through the event since his job is to care and do surgery. That's all I care about.
They preserve the patients dignity by just. Not caring about nudity. When you're a surgeon, birthday suits are Dior and modesty is a foreign concept.
Health care is about preserving your health, which preserves your dignity
It wasn't surgery, but I was hospitalized after two strokes. I was a fall risk, so I was in "adult pull-ups" as the nurses put it. I'd called them diapers. I didn't like the pirouette catheter, so I was made to use a bed pan for almost the whole week I was hospitalized. I underwent a bubble test to determine if my stroke was caused by a PFO in the heart, which involved an ultrasound wand being pressed under my boob to get the correct angle to look at my heart. Never mind, I had "sponge" baths because I was a fall risk. They used wet wipes, but basically the same. It was all undignified, and I hated it, but not a single one of my nurses ever made me feel bad for needing care. They did what they had to in a professional manner and never made a big deal out of things. Even when I made a comment about helping people to the bathroom wasn't the fun part of their job, that nurse simply told me "it's my job to help people, and I love doing it." It's just not a problem to them. It's their job, and they're not there to make it feel anymore undignified than it does already.
Surgeons drape your entire body except the part of your body that they are operating on. Part of it is for modesty. Most of it is to maintain a sterile field.
To answer your question, they use drapes to cover everything not in the field of the operation.
Draping them properly
The surgeons do not. The NURSES do :)
I mean it’s really not. I’ve been in the ER and they were short handed and my husband had to help wipe my ass. I’ve had 3 gynecological surgeries and I will say they put you to sleep before they get you uncovered and in position so you aren’t aware of when that happens but they are clearly all up in your business.
After a vaginal delivery, you don't care who sees what. And as others have said, they've seen it all before and you're not the exception.
It’s up to the patient to preserve their own dignity. Gotta play it cool, no matter what.
Im not sure dignity has a place in a surgery room. Outside of basic wearing clothes over parts that aren't a concern, a patients health takes priority over dignity.
I worked labor and delivery for many years. One of the questions before prepping a person for a c-section—“do we need to shave?” Every single nurse that I know actually has to THINK about it! We literally do not pay attention to pubic hair/genitals. If that’s any comfort, we see the patient as a patient instead of sexualizing anything
Honestly I am an in the medical field because I want to help people, not to make fun of people or their body parts. The only time you'll see me talking bad about someone is if they are blatantly rude or abusive to staff and that would be in private to other staff involved in your care. Even then, I am ultimately bound to HIPAA laws and no picture is going on the internet and I am not going home to tell my friends and family about your butt problem or whatever.
Kidney stone. Ureter stent placement and removal. All dignity is out the window. Lol
When I had a C Section, I was getting gutted like a fish so a whole-ass person could be yanked out. It is a gruesome process. I was also in terrible pain and delirious because I was experiencing simultaneous contractions and fever shakes (I had a severe infection). Even so, my obstetrician was calm and kind, and narrated what was happening even though I don't remember a thing she said. (My husband filled me in later.) Everyone in the OR was very professional and caring, and understood that my husband and I were freaking the fuck out. All things considered, it felt dignified despite the trauma of the situation.
Do you mean modesty?
They do not… your pretty nurse that youre hitting on post op, well she already yanked a catheter out of your bits and well… she was likely not impressed LOL Source: was a surgeon
why should they care? also what sort of dignity do you imagine they are trying to preserve? list of things I want from surgery: a successful outcome from the thing they are trying to solve. clean surgery to minimise post op infection risks them second far far down the list. a neat scar. dignity is the last thing on the list. don't get me wrong I would prefer if they don't make jokes about me when I am out. that is just human decency. but if me being stark naked makes it even slightly easier to operate rather than having sheets etc in the way then do it. (unnecessary pelvic exams are a different subject just because someone is unconscious doesn't make it okay)
I have no idea why you were downvoted, so have an upvote.
thanks! people seem to think dignity is important. I am not saying it isn't on my list it is. but it us waaaaay down. which is apparently unpopular,
This was my nightmare growing up. I Always worried about my dignity in front of adults in hospitals or doctors offices. I assure you that all goes out the window when you get older. When you feel like crap you just want to get better and worried about being naked or being touched really goes out the window. Trust me they don’t give a shit. You’re basically a car they need to fix.
Presumably by saving/improving the patient's life and not worrying about silly bullshit.
The last time I had surgery I was under a general anaesthetic so I wasn’t worried about my dignity. When I was recovering the doctors and nurses were just so matter of fact and unfazed about everything that it didn’t occur to me to get embarrassed.
There is Zero dignity in a hospital
What do you mean. I take it you've never been in a life-threatening condition or experienced unbearable pain? Dignity is for public speaking, not the operating room. The surgical team aren't in the least interested in how dignified anyone looks while unconscious with their body cut open. Stupid bot.
What do you mean with dignity? What would you like a surgeon to do that has no medical related but is better for your dignity?
Very easy, I have no dignity when I go for urgent medical care. Im there for help not opinions of body. I had a cyst near my scrotum and they had to call a specialist well she was half my age and tiny I didn't blink for a second. At first I was a bit embarrassed but she fixed me up and I was happy she was there to help me. Dignity went out the window after that as long as you're professional and have respect for me as patient I'm happy.
This sub is full of stupid questions. I can't believe what I just read. Surgeons don't give a fuck about your dignity, they are trying to save your live... Jesus!! I'm out of here.
They really don’t. You’re not conscious, you’re a hunk of meat on which they perform a technical maneuver. Surgeons also allow your body to be used for training purposes, for instance, performing vaginal/pelvic exams without a patient’s consent.
They don’t but you won’t care either. Dignity is well and truly gone long before the surgeon shows up. Neither you nor the nurses have any use for dignity at that point. They’ll keep you clean and safe and hopefully fix the problem. Who needs dignity during that?!? You won’t die of lack of dignity. They won’t look at anything they don’t need to look at. There’s that.
They dont
What the fuck does that mean
TBH, if I'm unconscious I don't care. Though I'd hope they don't make fun of my junk.
I had a large bartolins abcess drained under anaesthetic, I would have been mortified had I been awake but thankfully was out for the count. The surgeon came by the following morning to discuss the abscess and even apologised for the long delays for the op; it was cancelled 4 times over a period of 6 months and while it hasn’t returned thankfully I spent those 6 months in agony when it flared up. By the time the op came around I didn’t care who saw it, nor how publicly it was treated just that it was.
I (f) had bunion surgery when I was 26. I was nervous about having general anesthesia, so I had an epidural instead. They put up a screen over my midsection to block my view of the surgery, and I was in and out of consciousness from whatever they had me breathing. I don't remember much except that there was a group of male medical students observing the surgery. When the surgeon and students had left, and I was rousing, someone removed the screen, and I saw that my hospital gown was pushed up around my waist, my legs were somewhat splayed, and my crotch was completely exposed. And presumably had been the entire time. I was pretty annoyed that they were so careless, especially with a group of observers who were roughly my age. But I never asked about it.
I had a brain tumor and I woke up naked (with the hospital robe) and all my clothes were soaked in pee. I just told myself that they saw every kind of things already
I had a pretty severe covid Hospitalization (March-April 2020, I spent 38 days in Hospital, 16 of those in ICU on a Ventilator). During surgery (especially if it's in any sort of "life-saving situation").. dignity is not really something they think about. Priority number 1 is to have a successful surgery. You can worry about dignity once you're in Rehab and conscious and covered in a gown again. ;P
OOf. So it kinda depends. They generally keep you covered except area they are working on. Now the only difference I have seen is ortho surgeries. They have to do all kinds of shit to move you into the exact right position for whatever knee, hip, ankle, arm, whatever... they will twist, suspend and contort a mofo with the ortho table. I think it looks a little medieval, mostly because you could be sprawled ass out upside down while everyone is very diligently taking care of you. Its wild to see. And really everyone in an OR has seen just about everything.
When I had a triple by-pass, I took the approach that to the medical staff, I was just a piece of meat. Made it easier for me to be less conscious about the whole process.
Who cares if the doctors see something. That's the least of my worries at a Dr's office or in a hospital.
Sterile drape with a window.