Making it the FIRST question is part of the “your role as a vessel for a fetus is more important than your existence as a person” attitude that is far too common.
And I’ve experienced it myself, even after having yeeted my uterus because it was trying to bleed me to death.
It’s also a way in certain states of ensuring that, if she were pregnant, and it’s been 6 weeks since the start of her last period, she couldn’t legally seek an abortion.
There’s plenty of time later on in the exam to say, “I’m going to inject a local anesthetic while I dig the bullet out of your arm. Any chance you might be pregnant? When was your last period?”
I think it’s not about minimizing someone as just a vessel for a fetus, it’s about the reality that menstruation and pregnancy just have huge medical implications in general, in lab results, diagnostic approaches, and in treatment options. With such a wide variety of possible impacts, it may be easy to forget to check ‘just in time’ in very decision that might matter.
Suppose would someone rather get asked that awkwardly once for a whole visit, or potentially get asked repeatedly as they prepare to perform particular tests, interpret results, or think about prescribing medication.
It’s not fair that such a huge biological thing is incurred by one sex and not the other, but it is just a possibility they have to deal with.
To refrain from asking to avoid that awkwardness increases risk of missing that situation and malpractice for failing to take that pretty basic biological reality into account.
Ninety percent of the time it has no bearing on anything the doctor will be doing and yet it’s almost always the first thing they ask women. At least move it farther down the form! It’s fucking tiresome.
Should they ask every one of you men the date and time of your last ejaculation? Sure, it’s intrusive but ejaculatory issues are an under-discussed issue, perhaps it should be the first question for every man, to make sure it gets done as you say.
While not ejaculation, we do get probed (less literally now) over potential prostate issues, groin hernias, and erections. But only for routine visits, since these issues while significant, have little bearing on diagnosing and treating other health conditions.
Women draw the short straw since imaging and drugs all have to take a potential pregnancy into consideration so it’s a key piece of data for all sorts of medical events. Particularly risky when a fetus is hardest to be aware of early on.
Ninety percent of the time it has no bearing on anything the doctor will be doing
I would tend to agree with you if that were the case. But, I would ask you to quantify your claim.
According to ACEP, 48 in 100 ER patients will undergo simple radiograph procedures (some form of X-rays), while 27 in 100 will undergo CT imaging. Both pose significant dangers to a fetus, if present.
Based on that data, at least 48% to 75% of the time, the question does, indeed, have bearing on something the doctor will be doing. Is that sufficiently high enough to prioritize determining whether there is a second patient in the room?
Making it the FIRST question is part of the “your role as a vessel for a fetus is more important than your existence as a person” attitude that is far too common.
And I’ve experienced it myself, even after having yeeted my uterus because it was trying to bleed me to death.
It’s also a way in certain states of ensuring that, if she were pregnant, and it’s been 6 weeks since the start of her last period, she couldn’t legally seek an abortion.
There’s plenty of time later on in the exam to say, “I’m going to inject a local anesthetic while I dig the bullet out of your arm. Any chance you might be pregnant? When was your last period?”
I think it’s not about minimizing someone as just a vessel for a fetus, it’s about the reality that menstruation and pregnancy just have huge medical implications in general, in lab results, diagnostic approaches, and in treatment options. With such a wide variety of possible impacts, it may be easy to forget to check ‘just in time’ in very decision that might matter.
Suppose would someone rather get asked that awkwardly once for a whole visit, or potentially get asked repeatedly as they prepare to perform particular tests, interpret results, or think about prescribing medication.
It’s not fair that such a huge biological thing is incurred by one sex and not the other, but it is just a possibility they have to deal with.
To refrain from asking to avoid that awkwardness increases risk of missing that situation and malpractice for failing to take that pretty basic biological reality into account.
Ninety percent of the time it has no bearing on anything the doctor will be doing and yet it’s almost always the first thing they ask women. At least move it farther down the form! It’s fucking tiresome.
Should they ask every one of you men the date and time of your last ejaculation? Sure, it’s intrusive but ejaculatory issues are an under-discussed issue, perhaps it should be the first question for every man, to make sure it gets done as you say.
99% of the time I drive, my car insurance has no bearing on the outcome of my trip, but I really appreciate it that 1% of the time it does.
While not ejaculation, we do get probed (less literally now) over potential prostate issues, groin hernias, and erections. But only for routine visits, since these issues while significant, have little bearing on diagnosing and treating other health conditions.
Women draw the short straw since imaging and drugs all have to take a potential pregnancy into consideration so it’s a key piece of data for all sorts of medical events. Particularly risky when a fetus is hardest to be aware of early on.
I would tend to agree with you if that were the case. But, I would ask you to quantify your claim.
According to ACEP, 48 in 100 ER patients will undergo simple radiograph procedures (some form of X-rays), while 27 in 100 will undergo CT imaging. Both pose significant dangers to a fetus, if present.
Based on that data, at least 48% to 75% of the time, the question does, indeed, have bearing on something the doctor will be doing. Is that sufficiently high enough to prioritize determining whether there is a second patient in the room?
You’re assuming that she’s not going to quickly lose consciousness due to shock or blood loss. That is not a particularly safe assumption.