Many women’s medical routines involve visiting an OB/GYN. These appointments require a high level of trust since they involve intimate examinations and discussions about personal well-being. You deserve to feel safe, respected, and heard during every interaction with your doctor.
Unfortunately, not every patient receives the standard of care they are entitled to. Recent legal actions, such as the civil litigation against Dr. David Broadbent in Utah, have brought serious misconduct to light. Hundreds of plaintiffs have come forward alleging abuse, reminding us all to understand the signs of inappropriate behavior.
Here are seven red flags to watch for during an exam, and why they matter for your rights as a patient when you may need an OB/GYN malpractice lawyer.
1. Lack of Clear Communication and Consent
A professional medical exam begins with communication. Your provider should explain exactly what they are going to do before they do it, especially before any physical contact occurs.
If a doctor begins a sensitive exam without warning or touches you without verbal consent, this is a major warning sign. You should never be surprised by a medical procedure during a check-up.
Your Right as a Patient
Informed consent is a fundamental patient right. It’s also a core requirement of ethical medical care. You have the right to know what is happening to your body and to agree to it before it happens.
2. Exams Performed Without Gloves or Proper Protocol
Hygiene and safety protocols are non-negotiable in a medical setting. Standard practice for pelvic, rectal, or breast exams involves the use of medical gloves to protect both the patient and the provider.
If your doctor skips using gloves or ignores other basic hygiene steps without a clear, valid medical explanation, it is unprofessional and potentially dangerous.
Your Right as a Patient
Proper protocols are in place to protect patients from infection and to ensure professional, appropriate care. Deviating from these standards can be a sign of negligence or misconduct, and may require the expertise of an OB/GYN malpractice lawyer.
3. Touch That Feels Unnecessary, Personal, or Prolonged
Medical exams should be efficient and clinical. While some discomfort is common during certain procedures, any examination should have a medical purpose.
Be wary of hands lingering on intimate areas without explanation, or touching that feels invasive, caressing, or sexual rather than clinical. Trust your instincts if something feels off.
Your Right as a Patient
Many reported cases of medical misconduct describe inappropriate touching that blurs the line between clinical care and abuse.
4. Photos or Videos Taken Without a Clear Medical Purpose
It is highly irregular for a provider to take photos or videos of intimate areas using personal devices. If documentation is medically necessary, it should be done with approved medical equipment, and only after you have given explicit, informed consent. You have the right to ask why an image is being taken and how it will be stored.
Your Right as a Patient
Medical documentation must be justified, consensual, and handled securely to protect your privacy. Unauthorized images are a severe violation of trust and law and require an OB/GYN malpractice lawyer.
5. Inappropriate, Dismissive, or Unprofessional Comments
Your doctor’s office should be a judgment-free zone. Comments about your appearance, sexuality, or personal life that are not relevant to your health are inappropriate. Jokes that cause shame, or language that feels coercive or demeaning, have no place in a medical exam.
Your Right as a Patient
Unprofessional comments can be a grooming tactic or simply a sign of a toxic provider-patient relationship.
6. Refusal to Stop or Pause When Requested
You are in charge of your body at all times. If you’re in pain, uncomfortable, or want the exam to stop, your provider must listen immediately. If a doctor continues after you ask them to stop, or uses pressure or guilt to override your hesitation, they are violating your autonomy.
Your Right as a Patient
Patients have the absolute right to stop an exam at any time, for any reason. Ignoring a withdrawal of consent is a violation of your legal and human rights.
7. Denial of a Chaperone When Requested
Having a chaperone or another medical professional present in the room is a common request during sensitive exams. If a doctor refuses your request for a chaperone, or if the office has no clear policy allowing support persons during sensitive exams, this creates unnecessary isolation during vulnerable moments.
Your Right as a Patient
Chaperones provide comfort, transparency, and accountability. A refusal to allow one is a significant red flag that warrants further questioning.
If You Have Experienced Inappropriate Conduct
Reading about these signs can be difficult, especially if they resonate with a past experience. Please know that if you have suffered mistreatment, it is not your fault, and you are not alone.
If you think you might have experienced misconduct, try to document your memories while the details are fresh. Look for emotional support from a therapist or trusted friend. When you’re ready, you can get legal guidance from an OB/GYN malpractice lawyer to help you understand your options. We’re here to listen to your story with the compassion and confidentiality you deserve.
Contact G. Eric Nielson & Associates for Legal Support
If you or a loved one has been affected by medical misconduct or abuse, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. Our team specializes in medical malpractice and negligence, and we are dedicated to advocating for patients who have been harmed.
Our OB/GYN malpractice lawyers approach every case with sensitivity and a commitment to justice. Contact us today for a confidential consultation to discuss your situation and learn how we can support you.