Improper question?

I realize this may be off topic so I hope it is okay.  My wife had a colonoscopy yesterday.  For what it is worth, her doctor along with several others have their own operation for such procedures. She was taken back for pre-op and the nurse asked a number of questions (ie medications taken, last meal, etc) but one of the questions caught her off guard.  She was asked if she felt safe at home.  She answered yes but thought it odd such a question would be asked, especially in this particular instance and location.  I assume she wanted to know if my wife was a victim of domestic violence. My wife has never been asked this question by her family doctor or gynecologist.  The more and more I think about it, I think it was improper for such a question to be asked in this situation. What on earth does a  having a colonoscopy have to do with domestic violence?  I might understand if the question was coming from her family doctor as he wants to know about her physical and mental health. So just wondering if any of you have thoughts on this or have been faced with such a question or know of someone who has?  Who knows, maybe it's a part of Obamacare as I keep hearing more and more how it is changing everything in ways we never knew. By the way, everything went fine with the procedure.  Thanks!

Jim

I don't think it's completely off topic as it relates to the factc that we too may be confronted with unexpected questions during our treaetment, and despite all the preparation we do, we may still get caught out.

I wonder if the hospital/doc is part of some research and they are collecting data, but it may be a new protocol, same as docs asking if you use drugs as well as asking if you smoke or drink.

Sadly there is a need for questions about domestic violence to be one of the routine questions.
I think that it perhaps better for those not caught up in domestic violence to be asked a question that they see no need for, than for those that do have a problem to miss out on an opportunity to ask for help. What it also requires however is the "bed-side manner" by the doctor to perhaps make it clear that he is merely going down the list of routine questions that he asks all patients, and not that he suspects something in your particular case.

Docs often need to ask what seem like intrusive questions to get the full picture.

I remember feeling a bit odd when my uro was asking me about the state of my sex life during my first appointment, and he also asked if my wife was the only person I was having sex with.

The only problem I have is that this question may not be being asked of men and children (and it may be impossible to ask it of children who do not see dcotors on their own), as I have only known of two couples where things have got violent and in both cases it was the wife/mother being violent towards the husband and the children.

However Jim, what is more important here is that I hope the results of you wife's colonoscopy comes back fine.

Alf

Jim,

The thing to remember about that question is that the decision to ask it of you wife was made in a meeting to discuss the policy of the organization long before your wife had scheduled her colonoscopy. It wasn't something that the nurse decided on the spur of the moment because she thought you looked sketchy or your wife looked tattered. So there is no reason for you to take it personally. As to whether the policy of screening random patients at admission for unreported domestic violence is a sensible policy that would be an interesting discussion but one, sadly, that might get a bit too political for this venue.

David,

I don't find it sad that your friend found the doctors comment funny. I find it reassuring. It means that the doctor knew his audience. If you look around this forum you will see that we joke about the most appalling things. It can help -- if you get it right. If you are a woman who has just given birth and you have a guy with a needle and thread stitching away at your nether regions it can be distracting and worrisome. But if he tells you a joke you can figure he's a comedian and things are OK. That lets you get back to admiring the damp, red, slightly beat up looking, perfect, tiny new person the nurse is handing to you.

Hi, just visiting because this topic caught my eye. I am routinely asked this question every time I get my yearly physical, check into the hospital or have a colonoscopy, mammogram or other procedure.

I suspect the medical community knows that many people see the same PCP as their partner, that other medical facilities are shared by partners or staffed by people known to them. Offering as many opportunities as possible for someone to report problems helps assure that there is someplace they will feel safe talking about the problems.

And yes, the question should be asked of all. It also applies to people living in marginal neighborhoods who may be threatened by violence from outside their home.

In California, I believe it is now state law that they have to ask the question. I got asked that question just before my hernia surgery and colonoscopy last year.

All part of a government campaign to reduce domestic violence I was told.

Andrew

Purgatory said...
In all 9 of my most recent surgeries (2008-2012), I was asked that question. Believe it was required here in SC too. My wife was asked also with her back surgery last fall. I think its a good and fair question, they want to make sure a recovering surgical patient is going back to a safe environment.

david in sc

That makes sense. Still though, sad reflection of our culture and society.

We have been asked that before procedures almost every time in the last few years.

Given what is going on these days, I am glad they ask.

Mel

Davidg:

I suspect what goes on is the same (just my guess).

Thankfully, these things are no longer hidden or swept under the rug (or less so, anyway).

Mel

Thanks everyone for the responses. My wife is doing fine. A couple of polyps sent off for testing but the doc felt they would be benign. Again I don't have a problem with the question being asked...it just seems odd the question was asked by the non primary care physician and for a colonoscopy. Both my wife and I have seen doctors, emergency rooms, hospitals and operating rooms frequently the past couple of years and that is the first time either of us have had the question posed to us. You would think if it is such an important question to be answered, I am not saying it isn't, that at some point my wife's family doc, gynecologist, urologist or pain management doc would also have posed the question and none have. On a lighter note, the nurse also asked my wife if she is pregnant and she said no. Then the nurse asked, how do you know you aren't pregnant. She was sort of stunned at the follow up question. The nurse may have been equally stunned when my wife replied, because my husband no longer has a prostate due to prostate cancer. I teased my wife saying, you know the nurse could have then asked you, just because your husband doesn't have a prostate doesn't mean you can't be pregnant. Of course if the nurse dared asked that question I would probably be bailing my wife out of jail now.
Jim

JIM -  As a healthcare worker I can tell you this question is asked of everyone.  During my recent hospital stay pre-op and post-op they asked my husband 6 times.  He was beginning to feel as if he had done something wrong.  At the time I was completely out of it as they had overdosed me on dilaudid and was unable to answer any questions.  Anyway, whenever you go to an ER or even urgent care, they ask this question; it has become routine.

I've been to the hospital numerous times for stomach ulcers, gallbladder issues, and esophageal spasms and never have I been asked that question.

Knowing my personality, I would have likely done the Madea and Dr. Phil thing and replied "Do YOU feel safe at home?" :)

I understand these questions vary by state and are becoming more prevalent.   A friend recently reported that before his exam when completing the paperwork he was asked whether he kept guns in his home and, if so, to explain how they were stored.   He answered that the question was not applicapable.  

Not blaming Obamacare, but I do expect that there will be more of these types of questions going forward as more information is gathered that has to do with lifestyle as part of our medical related records.  

Well, my R. N. wife says it is definitely a question mandated under the ACA (Obamacare). Other questions that must be asked include "Do you smoke?" (every visit); if a child, "Does anyone smoke around the child?" There are others, and some must be asked every visit, even if previously answered.

During a visit to my PCP recently I was thrown a bit when one of the questions was "Do you have a gun in the house"?

Maybe some people don't find the new mandated questions intrusive. I definitely think some of them are completely irrelevant to medical treatment and should not be asked.