Right to refusal?
I recently had a patient who “demanded” a vaginal examination. They presented with some light spotting and I saw that they were overdue a smear test and so I advised that they go get their smear test ASAP as the vaginal examination would not alter management (as they would need the smear test regardless). However, the patient was adamant that they needed a vaginal examination there and then and pressured me into doing it in the end against my judgement.
I have been reflecting on this and was wondering what others would have done in this scenario? I am a male GP and have also reflected on if I had been a female GP and the genders were reversed, and a male patient had “demanded” an intimate examination, would that have made the situation more inappropriate? And if so why should that be the case?