• squaresinger@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    If a doctor doesn’t ask and it turns out the patient is pregnant and the treatment harms the embryo, the doctor is liable for the damages. If she or he doesn’t want to be liable, she or he needs to ask the question.

    I know someone who had her ovaries removed and was sure she couldn’t get pregnant anymore. Turns out, for some reason the ovary removal wasn’t complete, a small scrap of ovary was missed, and she got pregnant.

    Also it sadly does totally happen that women have had intercourse without them realizing. Look up e.g. Gisèle Pelicot.

    And lastly, ask how many women are positive that their contraception is in place and working perfectly and can surely never get pregnant but who still end up getting pregnant.

    There are women who carry a baby to completion and only realize at birth that they happened to be pregnant for a full 9 months.

    Yes, most women know their own bodies. But some do not. And as a doctor not asking is about as smart as putting your hand into a random strangers dogs mouth because most dogs are well-trained and will not bite your hand off.

    • buddascrayon@lemmy.world
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      14 hours ago

      Literally not on of those scenarios you brought up would b solved by the question “When was your last period?” These are all edge cases and shit happens.

      Also, possible liability is solved by thinking and consideration, not blindly asking pointless questions. It also doesn’t equate to “Legally required”. A woman comes in with a broken arm and you ask “When was your last period?”, she’s gonna be annoyed that you aren’t addressing the fucking broken arm. If you’re gonna give her pain killers or an X-ray, you tell her that they can be harmful to pregnancies and if she’s worried about that then do a preg test, otherwise treat her like a person not a walking incubation pod.

      • squaresinger@lemmy.world
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        12 hours ago

        Do you always get annoyed at routine questions? Do you get angry when tech support asks you to turn your PC off and on again? Do you get furious when customer support asks you for your order number?

        These things are routine questions. The period question is asked by female doctors too. For a reason.

        Why is it so hard for you to understand that doctors are just working off checklists that are proven to work? Doctors aren’t there to make nice dinner conversations but to patch you up in the quickest possible manner with the least amount of mistakes. That’s why checklists exist.

        If you know better what kind of information a doctor needs than she herself, why do you even go to one?

        You choose to be offended because like many people on the internet you live off being offended. “I am offended, therefore I am.”

        Well done, you prioritize being offended over being healthy.

        What a ridiculous state of being.