TAILIEUCHUNG - Male physicians treating Female patients: Issues, Controversies and Gynecology

“Women’s health” is a concept that conjures up many meanings and agendas in different regions of the world among many different strata of women. Yet these differences do not discourage women from espousing and supporting women’s health; nor is there much of an interest on the part of women advocates for reducing the number of concerns. Generally speaking women’s health is conceptually pragmatic -- that is, women’s health is generally thought to include all conditions, diseases, care and research that affects women either disproportionately or differently from men. . | 72 MJM 2010 13 1 72-76 Copyright 2010 by MJM CROSSROADS Male physicians treating Female patients Issues Controversies and Gynecology Jacques Balayla INTRODUCTION The most precious and sacred form of personal information that we possess is our body. It is our own flesh and blood which holds and sustains our being. Our body is our instrument for living. It is so personal and intimate that we frequently hide it as though its public display would be a natural source of shame. Michel de Montaigne the French Renaissance author puts it well Man is the sole animal whose nudity offends his own companions and the only one who in his natural actions withdraws and hides himself from his own kind 1 . Thus it not surprising that visiting a physician and allowing for an intricate inspection and examination of our dearest possession our body is a source of trepidation and anxiety for US. Perhaps the deepest level of vulnerability in an exam is the genital and pelvic examination. A glimpse into history demonstrates that until very recently pelvic examinations in women were handled by females likely to ensure comfort and privacy all the while preventing improper interactions from male counterparts. HISTORICAL PROGRESSION OF THE PELVIC EXAMINATION The oldest medical text known to man is the Kahun Gynecological Papyrus written by the Egyptians around 1800 BCE. The papyrus provides a glance into early gynecological medicine and unveils the traditions of reproduction conception and delivery in ancient Egypt. For the Egyptians the main treatment modalities provided by the To whom correspondence should be addressed Jacques Balayla McGill University Faculty of Medicine swnw pronounced sounou physician figure were founded on pharmacopoeia from animals plants and minerals surgical intervention was never recommended 2 . Magic spells were whispered as it was believed that diseases were demonic in origin. Due to compliance with religious doctrine men were not .

• Sức khỏe phụ nữ
• Vaginal Wall Prolapse
• Surgical Complications
• Synthetic Materials
• Treatment
• Post Prostatic
• Surgery Stress
• Planning Incorporation
• Policy and Management
• Medical Devices