by Kara A.N. Dunkel

Hospitals. Can we trust them with our health?

I was sexually assaulted by a man pretending to perform a medical procedure on me in a respected hospital in St. Louis. This medical technician, who had no name tag, used a wand inside my vagina rapidly and randomly while alone in the room with me. He stepped out and returned with a resident doctor who did a careful and precise exam with the same instrument. The two left and technician returned and continued to use this wand rapidly and randomly in my vagina.

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The authentic procedure is called a transvaginal ultrasound. It is done with a sensitive instrument focusing carefully to identify images of tissue and organs and measures these images for medical record and diagnosis. It has been disgusting to find that for such an intrusive procedure this hospital is not accredited. It has been even more disgusting for this hospital to tell me, the patient, that I was given proper care when I know that I was grossly and blatantly abused and sexually assaulted by someone they say has credentials. It has been a nightmare to learn the police cannot investigate. If this man had done this to me on the street, he would be incarcerated.

Protect yourself by finding out prior to any medical procedure all you can about the procedure (how it is administered, side effects from medication, etc.). The Internet is an invaluable tool for this. Second, take a friend with you to witness the entire procedure. Third, feel confident to interrupt at any time during a procedure to ask questions or stop what you are experiencing. Forth, both patient and friend should immediately document names of physicians and personnel involved with the procedure and exactly what you observed.

No one is safe in a hospital that will not investigate itself, admit its mistakes and seek punitive action against criminals.

Were you transvaginally assaulted also? Call Kara A.N. Dunkel at (618) 529-4042.