BMJ 1995;310:937 (8 April)

Letters

Rectogenital region is associated with strong cultural and sexual aesthetic beliefs

EDITOR,--Like many anaesthetists, I was alarmed by the finding by the professional conduct committee of the General Medical Council discussed by John Mitchell and others.1 It is important, however, to recognise that in our society there are strong cultural and sexual aesthetic beliefs regarding intimacy of the rectogenital region, which is thus often referred to as our "private parts." There is evidence that patients show reluctance to accept simple medical procedures involving the rectum,2 3 so suppositories should not be equated with other standard forms of pain relief but require specific discussion and informed consent. In a study of 100 day surgical patients given an anonymous questionnaire I found that 98 considered this to be essential. With knowledge that rectal diclofenac was not the only analgesia available, 54 patients declined to have a suppository during their anaesthesia and 69 preferred to take diclofenac orally preoperatively.

I agree with Mitchell that the . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

A fundamental problem of consent
John Mitchell
BMJ 1995 310: 43-46. [Extract] [Full Text]

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