This morning I had a breast ultrasound and mammogram. The whole experience was fairly surreal since, other than the occasional worst-case-scenario fantasy, I was never actually worried about it. It would be unfair not to tell you that the end result is simply that I have very fibrous breast tissue, although that's not really what I want to talk about.
What struck me most about it was the waiting room. In order to maximize efficiency (I presume), women are herded into a locker room/changing area, told to undress and then wait their turn. Women read magazines or watch the Today show while trying to cover up with thin hospital gowns. Some wear coats over their gowns and others let them hang loosely, exposing the bare flesh beneath. Two women had brought friends or family members to help with English translation; One came with her adult daughter. There were obvious attempts made to maintain the dignity of the situation, but I wonder how possible it is to make a bunch of half-naked women sitting amongst strangers feel particularly comfortable. I spent a lot of my waiting time trying to decide if the image of us all sitting there together was empowering and feminine or dehumanizing and convenient. While it was important for me at the time to be able to put a positive spin on an unpleasant situation, my thoughts lead me back to this: when I walked into that waiting area, I saw a room of vulnerable, uncomfortable, exposed women.
I wonder if the other major hospitals operate similarly. In the past month I have been to specialist care at this particular hospital twice, and have been disappointed with it both times. It isn't that I have encountered rudeness or poor care, it's just that there are simply too many patients to be seen. Both of the departments I visited were large and bustling, both required me to wait for long amounts of time, and both afforded very little actual time with the medical provider. In the case of women lined up to get their breasts imaged, the resulting impression does not feel particularly caring or personal: Not only are we going to squeeze your (beautiful) breasts into a machine, but we're going to make you sit there staring at each other in a state of undress while you worry what we may find.
I spent many years of my life feeling less than human in the eyes of medical providers. One could argue that, due to this, I am oversensitive to the issue. Whatever the case, I am of the opinion that patients should be in control of their medical care at all times (when possible), and that they should always, without exception, be treated as individuals and with compassion. I believe that convenience to the provider should always come second to maintaining the dignity and comfort of the patient. The provider/patient relationship is a unique one in that it cannot and should not be reciprocal. It is also a relationship forged almost entirely on vulnerable moments in the patient's life. With that in mind, why should I trust someone with my health if they cannot put my feelings and individuality before their own in this setting?
If I follow my thoughts along this topic further, I come to the financial interests of the health care industry, then to the flaws of capitalism and onto an entirely too complex rant for which I am not even very well informed. However, my social conscience aside, I just want to be treated like the wonderful, vulnerable, complex person that I am. Is that too much to ask?
15:00 - Wednesday, Dec. 05, 2007
Recent entries:
- - Monday, Dec. 31, 2007
The Moments to Live For - Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007
message of Christmas Peace - Friday, Dec. 07, 2007
just a bunch of breast tissue - Wednesday, Dec. 05, 2007
a poetry reading - Friday, Nov. 30, 2007
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