Naked at the doctor's office

Because, generally speaking, teaching hospitals are designed as primary learning environments rather than general facilities. That said, students do occasionally rotate through for specific practical training required by their curriculum, though those instances are far less frequent than regular rotations.

Honestly, I think when doctors don't bother asking if a patient is comfortable having a dozen extra people in the room during an exam, it just shows they don't see patients as actual human beings. To them, we're just a collection of symptoms... like saying "we have a polyp here" instead of "we have a patient with a polyp." People have rights, feelings, and fears. Diseases don't.

If they tried that with me without asking, I'd lose my mind... but if they actually checked first, I'd probably let them. And this whole thing about forcing people into private hospitals if they don't want to be overworked? It’s just plain rude.

Patients have the absolute right to refuse, so there really isn't any debate about that. When I was at the neurology department, they actually asked if I’d be okay with them presenting my case to some medical students—not an actual exam, just a discussion where they could ask questions—and I told them no. And they respected that.

It actually reminds me of something I witnessed back at the children's hospital in Cleveland. They have this massive central hall that connects to all the different rooms; it's used for visitors, but apparently, it doubles as a lecture space for doctors too. I remember seeing about twenty doctors gather there, wheel out an examination table, and then take this poor child—who couldn't have been more than 10 or 12—and strip them completely naked on that table just to conduct their lecture right there. We kids were watching through the glass in our room, and honestly, it was horrifying. I can't help but think that kid probably carries trauma from that to this day. Imagine being small, sick, and stuck in a hospital, only to be stripped bare and paraded around in a huge lecture hall like some kind of freak show attraction.

Honestly, the thought of going to the doctor makes me feel sick to my stomach. It’s not just general anxiety; it’s the idea of being under the microscope. Dealing with all this pain and everything else is exhausting enough, but having five or six different people staring at you while you're in labor? I think I’d actually lose my mind.

It’s true that patients have the legal right to refuse an exam by students or trainees. But you have to wonder: isn't it better for them to learn on the job now, while they're still in school, rather than having you visit their clinic once they've graduated and realized they have to teach themselves everything from scratch?

Michelle Cook83 said:Look, just pay for a private clinic and you won't have people barging in on you like that. When you're staying at a teaching hospital—one that's partnered with a medical school—students and residents actually have the right to examine whoever they need to.

True, but I can still politely ask them to leave. 🙄

😳

cosmicscout403 said:It’s true that patients have the legal right to refuse an examination by students or trainees. However, isn't it actually more practical to let them observe and learn while they are still in med school? It seems better to have them cut their teeth now rather than having them graduate and show up at your clinic only to realize they lack hands-on experience.

They should be learning on someone else's time. Some patients will likely allow them to observe if they don't find it too awkward. Personally, I wouldn't permit it.

Melissa James70 said:Patients have every right to say no, period. There's really no debate there. Back when I was at the neurology ward, they actually asked if I’d be okay with them presenting my case to some medical students... you know, no actual exam, just telling the story so they could ask questions... and I just told them no. And they respected that.

It actually reminds me of something I saw at the children's hospital over in Cleveland. They have this massive hall where all the patient rooms open up into—it's used for visitors, but clearly for doctor lectures too. This group of maybe twenty doctors walked in, dragged an exam table into the middle of the room, and they took this poor kid, stripped him completely naked, and just... kept him on that table while they gave their lecture. We kids were watching through the glass in our room, and honestly, it was horrifying. The kid couldn't have been more than 10 or 12. I bet he still carries that trauma today... being small, sick, stuck in a hospital, and then being taken out to some huge hall to be put on display like some freak show attraction...

That's just awful. Something similar happened to me once; well, "similar" because they didn't strip me, they just lifted my clothes up a bit... it hurt so bad, and there were six or seven people just crowding around me, pressing in... I wouldn't wish that on anyone, let alone a scared little kid.

Sarah Garcia12 said:This is appalling. I had an experience that was somewhat similar—though they didn't fully strip me, they just lifted my clothes enough to cause immense pain. Having six or seven people crowding around you like that is overwhelming. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, let alone a terrified child.

When I was little, I actually refused to let them lift my shirt once. There were several young doctors present; they were decent people and didn't force the issue because they could see how uncomfortable I was.

I honestly don't see what the big deal is here 🤷. There was a time when I felt uncomfortable with it and turned it down, which is perfectly fine, no harm done
.

cosmicscout403 said:It’s true that patients have the legal right to refuse an exam by medical students or interns—that's protected under US law—but you have to wonder if it might actually be more beneficial to let that student observe and learn while they're still in training, rather than having them graduate only to end up in your clinic later, where they'll have to learn those practical skills on their own time.

Don't sweat it too much, because there will always be someone out there who doesn't mind at all, or maybe even someone who actually enjoys being the center of attention during a clinical demonstration 😁.

Yeah, I remember some of my high school instructors being incredibly respectful toward their patients. Especially my homeroom teacher... if someone needed blood drawn, she’d be so gentle about it (she usually focused on the women, since I know for a fact the guys were way more squeamish). She’d explain everything clearly and ask permission first. Some people would decline, others would say yes, and she just respected that. But then there was this one professor who used to drag us into the exam room and quiz us right in front of the patients—which was honestly awful. It was awkward for everyone involved, both for us students and the patients themselves. Fast forward to when I was actually in the hospital; they asked if anyone wanted to watch them perform my lumbar puncture. In my head, I was just thinking, "Sure, go ahead, I don't care, just make this over with quickly." But the staff kept peppering me with questions like, "Does this hurt?" because I had been chatting and laughing with the doctor the whole time. They seemed so confused by my attitude! At the end of the day, I think it all just comes down to communication and setting expectations.

swiftpanther52 said:When I was stuck in the hospital, I actually thought about asking if I could watch them perform my lumbar puncture—not because I’m a masochist, but just because I wanted to see how much longer this whole ordeal was going to take. But honestly? The staff was totally thrown off by me. They kept peppering me with questions like, "Does this hurt?" while I was busy chatting and laughing with my doctor. It was awkward for them—they clearly weren't used to someone being so chill. At the end of the day, it's all about setting expectations!

For me, the constant questioning was the absolute worst part of being in the ICU. I had zero energy for it, but somehow, they always managed to time the shifts perfectly—it was like a revolving door of interns. Every three hours, a new pair would waltz in asking the same tired questions: "Are you in pain? What was the first thing you felt? Have you ever used drugs intravenously? Can you tell us 😉."

Looking back, it's pretty obvious there's always some trainee in the mix, trying to figure things out on your dime.😂

I once had to go into a Cleveland clinic for a quick little procedure on my cheek (from the outside 😲).
I sat down in the chair, they wrapped me up in some kind of drape, gave me the local anesthesia, and suddenly, I’m surrounded by a bunch of kids in white lab coats. I just sat there in silence.🙄

The surgeon started working, and one little girl leaned right into my face: "Oh my god, that looks sooooo gross!" She was totally losing it. It took forever just to calm her down. 🤣

The whole thing was over before I knew it. I hopped off the chair and caught a bus back home. That was that.☕

And honestly? You can't even tell anything happened.😬

I remember one time I was at the dentist getting a filling when two med students just barged in. The doctor actually let them take a crack at it, letting them try their hand at drilling and patching things up myself 🙄

Then there was that other time my surgeon was performing a minor procedure on my toenail—he actually handed the tools over to a student so she could "get some practice" cutting and pulling at it 😂

But honestly, the absolute peak of this absurdity was what happened to my husband. During his colonoscopy, they actually brought students right into the room 😲

I’ve never had anyone walk in on me during a gynecological exam, and frankly, I really hope it stays that way.

Chloe Robinson80 said:I remember when I was just a kid, there were a bunch of those young doctors around and they were actually pretty cool... they didn't force me to lift my shirt or anything because they could tell how uncomfortable I was.

Honestly, I was just so terrified and alone, dealing with all that pain... I didn't even know where I was or who I was, let alone that I actually had the right to say no to anything. But whatever, at the end of the day, the main thing is that I'm alive and healthy now... though I guess people can get used to just about anything, unfortunately...

Oh, just wonderful... I’ve got a urologist appointment coming up in three weeks, and honestly, I’m already on edge—I just really hope I don't end up with some wide-eyed med student jumping into the exam mid-way through. 🙄

wirednomad42 said:I was just picturing one of those pathology interns being all polite and asking the patient, "If you don't mind, we'd just like to..." 😁

😂

Amy Kelly said:I once had to go to Perkov's clinic for a minor procedure on my cheek (from the outside 😲).
So there I am, sitting in the chair, they wrap me up in some kind of medical drape, give me the local anesthetic, and suddenly, I’m surrounded by a bunch of kids in white lab coats. I just sit there in silence.🙄

Thank goodness they didn't try to perform the surgery entirely on their own.

About a year ago, I had a scalp biopsy done at Vinograd Hospital (never again, those damn med students ☕), and there they were—a group of five or six of them gathered around me. They administer the anesthesia, and then someone actually has to start working. This doctor goes, "Who wants to be the first to try?" ... and this one girl steps up, starts poking around my head, and completely messes things up... then the doctor comes over and starts yelling at her about what she did and why her hands are shaking so much 🤣 ... while I'm just sitting there in total shock thinking, what on earth is happening now 😲 ... and the other five students are asking, "Does it hurt?" ... I mean, come on, I'm under fucking anesthesia, of course it doesn't hurt 🙄 ... so eventually, the doctor takes over and finishes the job herself. Then, that very same group that just botched everything thirty seconds ago chimes in with another brilliant question: "Will the hair grow back normally here?" ... and the doctor replies, "Well, there might be a little scar." Ugh, it was already midday for me, so I asked, "What kind of scar?" ... and the doctor says, "Oh no, no, you won't have any scar at all, it will all heal up" 🤣 ... and thank God it did heal, but honestly, to hell with all those students 😬

I once had a whole crowd of medical students shadowing my gynecological surgery
I honestly can't even recall their faces—the anesthesia kicked in before they could even swarm into the OR—but they were right there waiting for me during my follow-up appointment. To make matters worse, the OBGYN kept calling on them to explain my test results, and they just stood there stuttering and turning bright red like deer in headlights 🤣 🤣
After all that, he actually asked if I’d mind them being in the room during my pelvic exam. Honestly? It didn't bother me at all; if those kids can learn something by watching 😬

Just a heads-up: when you're at a major teaching hospital, there's always a chance a student might end up being the one "examining" you for their practical
It’s practically a comedy routine; patients whisper to one another, trying to explain what's happening while everyone watches 😁

On a much darker note, I had a far more uncomfortable experience—without any students involved—when I was working as a nurse at some creepy old clinic run by a total predator
Without any warning or reason, this guy stripped me down to my underwear—no bra, either—and because I was so young and incredibly shy (plus, he was the doctor, after all 🙄), I didn't have the nerve to tell him where to shove it
It wasn't until I started working more regularly that my colleagues pulled me aside and explained that, for him, that was just his standard operating procedure 🤮 🤮
The old man belongs in prison 🤮

Chloe Gomez80 said:It was incredibly awkward. I was at an appointment earlier; I walked in, and the door was left wide open. There was just a nurse in the next room who didn't seem to care. I undressed, and while this doctor was examining me—I even took off my bra—once he finished, I’m getting dressed and the doctor just asks, "Hey guys, did you catch everything?" I turn around and there they are, four of them sitting on the exam table right behind the open door, just nodding along with these satisfied smirks... unbelievable! 😠

You actually made me laugh 😂 😂 😂>

Ont. I could accept things up to a certain point. I have nothing against it if we're talking about treating some dermatitis or a dislocated joint, etc. But gynecological exams? And especially breast exams, which aren't exactly pleasant as it is? Absolutely not. The idea of ten medical students all staring at my breasts looking for calcifications... 🙂

I don't mind medical students, even at a gynecologist's office. Having ten in the room would be overkill, but two or three is perfectly fine. They have to learn somehow, after all.🤷 I find that argument—"they shouldn't have to practice on me"—completely nonsensical. It’s as if there are different tiers of people you can learn on. What categories could those possibly be? Which patients are "practice" patients and which ones aren't?😕.

It was fine to watch😁, but I have to admit: if we're talking about an actual procedure, I wouldn't want someone performing it on me if it's their very first time, especially if they seem unsure. A simple blood draw or a routine exam? Sure. But a surgical procedure involving a scalpel? I'd pass.

Ultimately, I believe a doctor should always ask for the patient's consent. Even if they don't ask, I wouldn't appreciate being caught off guard. I'd simply speak up—not out of anger, just clearly stating that I'm not comfortable with it.🤷.
But look, they have to gain experience. Otherwise, our children will be treated by doctors with zero hands-on training, and none of us want that.😁.