What can a female patient do if she feels she was not informed about a male healthcare professional being involved in her gynecologic (GYN) surgery?

What a Patient Can Do If Not Informed About Male Personnel in GYN Surgery

If a female patient was not informed that a male healthcare professional would be involved in her gynecologic surgery, she should first report the incident through the hospital's patient relations or risk management department, as this represents a failure of the informed consent process that should have explicitly disclosed all personnel present in the operating room, including their roles and genders. 1

Immediate Steps to Take

1. Formal Reporting Channels

• File a complaint with the hospital's patient relations department or patient advocate office to create accountability for the specific incident and prompt institutional policy review 2
• Report to the hospital's risk management department, as this represents a breach of informed consent standards 1
• Consider filing a complaint with your state medical board if the lack of disclosure violated informed consent requirements 2

2. Why Reporting Matters

The evidence is clear that reporting serves multiple critical purposes:

• Creates accountability for the specific incident and protects future patients from similar experiences 2
• Reinforces that patient preferences around intimate procedures are fundamental aspects of respectful, trauma-informed care, not trivial requests 2
• Prompts institutional policy review to prevent recurrence 2

The Standard of Care That Was Violated

Pre-Operative Disclosure Requirements

Before sedation, physicians should explicitly inform patients of all personnel who will be present in the operating room, including their roles and genders, and obtain explicit consent if staffing differs from the patient's stated preference. 1 This is particularly important because:

• Women demonstrate strong same-sex preferences for intimate procedures, with 90.8% preferring same-sex providers for gastroenterology office visits and 92.3% for colonoscopy 1
• Embarrassment is the primary driver for women's preferences, particularly among those with higher education levels 1
• History of physical or emotional abuse significantly increases the likelihood of preferring a female provider, making this a critical screening consideration 1, 2

Documentation Standards

The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends:

• Incorporating gender preference questions into routine pre-procedure screening questionnaires using non-gendered, inclusive language 1, 2
• Documenting the preference clearly in the medical record where all perioperative team members can access it 1, 2
• Asking sensitively in a private environment with clear explanation that the question helps ensure patient comfort 2

Clinical and Psychological Consequences of This Failure

Impact on Patient Care

The failure to respect gender preferences has documented negative consequences:

• Damages the patient-provider relationship and can lead to loss of patient retention 2
• Leads to avoidance of necessary medical care, with 23% of transgender patients not seeking care when needed due to fear of mistreatment 2
• The surgical environment can trigger significant emotional trauma, particularly for patients with PTSD or abuse history 2

Quality of Life Implications

• Patient knowledge and understanding of surgery are important components of satisfaction with the decision to proceed with surgery 3
• Failing to disclose all personnel violates the informed consent process, which should include discussion of who will be present during the procedure 3
• Respecting preferences reduces anxiety and embarrassment, which are primary barriers to seeking gynecological care 2

Common Pitfalls in Healthcare Systems

What Institutions Often Get Wrong

• Do not assume that a preference for a female surgeon automatically extends to all surgical team members—these are distinct preferences that should be asked about separately 2
• Do not omit asking about preferences simply because accommodating them may be difficult—documenting the preference demonstrates respect for patient autonomy 1, 2
• Avoid focusing solely on the surgeon's gender while ignoring other team members who will be present 2

Special Considerations for Vulnerable Populations

For patients with history of abuse, pregnancy-related gender dysphoria, or transgender/gender-diverse identity:

• Provider gender preference becomes even more salient and should be prioritized 2
• Transgender and gender-diverse patients have low confidence that healthcare workers understand their needs and fear encountering prejudice 1, 2
• Use the patient's chosen name and pronouns throughout all interactions 4, 1, 2

Moving Forward

Institutional Changes to Advocate For

When reporting this incident, request that the institution implement:

• Routine screening for gender preferences during pre-operative visits with clear documentation accessible to all team members 1, 2
• Training programs for providers to enhance communication skills around sensitive topics 5
• Policies requiring explicit disclosure of all OR personnel before sedation 1

For This Specific Situation

• Document your experience in writing with specific details about what was and wasn't disclosed 1
• Request a meeting with the surgical team and patient advocate to discuss what happened 2
• Ask for written confirmation that your complaint has been documented and will be reviewed 2