Letter to PALS

[ailbhe]

Hi,

While at my pre-op today for a gynaecological issue I saw a notice up asking that staff remind women to shave before surgery. I asked the nurse if I should shave, and she said no, but that the consultant preferred "ladies" to "tidy the garden."

The consultant's aesthetic preferences are not a patient's concern, and should never be made a patient's concern, and if there is no surgical need - no incision within the hairline, etc - then there is no medical requirement to depilate. Genital exposure is personal enough without bringing the surgeon's personal aesthetic preferences into it.

I have a personal preference for a gynaecologist who can cope with normal adult female anatomy.

A.

Comments

[venta.livejournal.com]

I could believe that perhaps shorter hair might be not a surgical necessity, but might make performing some surgeries easier - in which case it is a reasonable request. However, if that's the case it should be made clear and not expressed in twee euphemisms :(

[barakta]

I agree re twee euphemisms and it should be a choice to have the medical staff deal with that while you're under GA if you can't or don't want to do it beforehand. I would have difficulty complying for physical disability reasons and it's horrid having to ask for special treatment.


Ailbhe: I have found PALS at my local hospital responsive to feedback about some access issues I've had with them and the hospital in general so I hope your PALS is equally sensible.