This issue has occured for real with us, and as they say, good judgement comes from bad experience. Any practitioner doing a potentially sensitve exam that could be miscontrued or manipulated for gain without a proper monitor is rolling the dice. <BR> <BR>Regarding the issue of translators raised by Dr Mattox, there is a liability to that as well if improperly done. One can not depend upon friends or famuly members to translate. Indeed, technically, one can not even use other hospital personnel unless they are certified medical translators. If the patient later says "I didn't understand," you are at risk. It's an expense, but we subscribe to a phone-based translator servece (AT&T has one for example). It's expensive and time-consuming, but it's safe. In the past month, it's helped me with two patients, one speaking Polish and the other Mandarin. <BR> <BR>Jeffrey Hammond MD, MPH<BR>New Brunswick, NJ<BR><BR>----- Original Message -----<BR>From: KMATTOX@aol.com<BR>Date: Saturday, January 12, 2008 9:08 am<BR>Subject: Re: Standbys in Today's Medicine - ALWAYS<BR>To: trauma-list@trauma.org<BR><BR>> In my view, in today's litigious world, and with all <BR>> "harassments" being <BR>> defined as being in the eyes of the beholder or recipient, the <BR>> "SAFEST" route is <BR>> for ALL examiners and interviewers to ALWAYS have some sort of <BR>> chaperone or <BR>> mechanism to hear and document the conversation and examinations <BR>> between a <BR>> patient and a physician, or someone acting under the supervision <BR>> of a <BR>> physician. Even if the patient being <BR>> interviewed or examined brought their own <BR>> witness, entrapment cases are not uncommon and the prudent <BR>> professional would <BR>> have someone accompany her or him with a patient, <BR>> regardless of the gender of <BR>> the examiner or the examinee. <BR>> <BR>> NOW, I am fully aware that both number of personnel AND COST <BR>> constraints <BR>> prohibit the ideal and safest route. This then <BR>> raises questions of <BR>> practicality. One could also raise the <BR>> same question about translators and mis <BR>> understandings by patients who do not understand the <BR>> language or culture of the <BR>> doctor, clinic, or hospital that they find themselves <BR>> in. <BR>> <BR>> k<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> In a message dated 1/12/2008 7:44:04 A.M. Central Standard <BR>> Time, <BR>> cvmmorris@gmail.com writes:<BR>> <BR>> Recently, I began practicing at my original rural FP position in <BR>> NC and I<BR>> have had several instances of needing to examine "private <BR>> parts". In that<BR>> regard, I requested a standby, as that is what I have done <BR>> for the<BR>> past several years. I would really like opinions: yay or nay? <BR>> Does it matter<BR>> F-M, MM FF, or M-F?<BR>> <BR>> The NP with whom I work feels comfortable not conscripting <BR>> a nurse or MA to<BR>> be in the room, although I was told to absolutely not do <BR>> an unmonitored exam<BR>> at the ERs where I have worked. By way of history, I <BR>> trained in the late<BR>> '70s with a lady Ob/Gyn and she told me to get used to <BR>> doing my own exams,<BR>> because as a female PA, I would be doing the pelvics <BR>> without assistance.<BR>> <BR>> Opinions welcome and requested! It is the 21st century and <BR>> we have other<BR>> concerns to ponder.<BR>> <BR>> C M Morris<BR>> --<BR>> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG<BR>> To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:<BR>> http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> **************Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay <BR>> in shape. <BR>> http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489<BR>> --<BR>> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG<BR>> To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:<BR>> http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/