AAtndpt2018
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I know sexual harassment is a big topic in the news right now, and it had me reflecting over some past experiences: what constitutes sexual harassment between clinical instructor and student? I have a memory that vividly stands out to me which happened while I was a student during one of my clinical rotations several years ago. Since PT is such a hands-on environment, I truly wanted to know what people think of this situation, and whether it was appropriate or not. I'm not seeking to confirm that this was sexual harassment, but rather start a thread on what does constitute sexual harassment between student and CI. (I understand sexual harassment guidelines between PT and patient in the workplace, so this is not about that).
I was assigned a 10 week rotation at a manual therapy outpatient clinic. Three PTs worked at the clinic: 2 were female and one was male. I'll call him Joe. Joe was my clinical instructor. He was in his late 20s and I was around 23 or 24 at the time. Joe was a good CI-he took time out to teach me different techniques, especially manual techniques, and would often quiz me during the day. One day he told me we were going to go over external pelvic floor palpation techniques. I told him I hadn't even learned that in school, and expressed some surprise (I think I thought he was kidding at first-maybe this was naive of me as a PT student). He told me that he was surprised I hadn't learned or practiced the technique in PT school. So I thought maybe my school was just conservative.
We headed to a treatment table in the back of the clinic. I believe the curtains were drawn for privacy; I know for a fact no patients were around nor were the other 2 female PTs. In other words, it was just me and Joe.
I laid on the table in a hook lying position while Joe began talking through the anatomy. I remember feeling very nervous and trying hard to maintain my composure. However I admit I did not voice my discomfort-I was embarrassed that I was just being naive and that this was completely normal. And, after all, he was my CI, and in charge of my grades for the rotation.
He started to palpate my lower abdomen and down lower, around my pelvic region but not internally. My hands were not under his (I'd been taught this is an approach sometimes used near sensitive areas, especially when working with the opposite sex). He didn't spend a lot of time, maybe a couple of minutes or so, before we switched positions so that I could practice on him. He assumed the same position and started talking me through the palpation technique as he had performed on me. Again, his hands were not underneath mine. I know this because I got extremely close to his genitalia as he coaxed my position. Nothing else happened, but it was a very, very uncomfortable "lesson." We returned to work soon after.
I recall thinking this was very odd because again, I'd never practiced this in school, and also (and more importantly), because we did not have a single patient to which this technique applied. I understand that in a working environment I may come across a patient that would benefit from pelvic floor palpation (although I have not yet in my outpatient clinic), so perhaps this was just a good lesson to learn. I guess my question is, was it done appropriately?
Following this episode, I did confer with 10 of my close girlfriends from school who were all in their own clinical rotations across the country. They all appeared to be somewhat shocked, but again, none of us had practiced this in school as we attended the same one. I also asked some non-PT school friends who I was living with the time and they were equally surprised, but they are not in the field, so I wasn't sure if I could rely so much on their reactions. I also never consulted with the other two female PTs who worked in my clinic, which, upon reflection would have been the wise thing to do. But they were all close with my CI and I feared sounding stupid and immature.
So, long story, but if any one has any comments about this, please let me know. Am I overreacting to a normal learning opportunity? Is this an appropriate technique for a male CI to teach his female student? There's a lot that makes me feel like maybe this is normal and if I was uncomfortable at all it was my responsibility to speak up. But part of me questions the appropriateness given the environment and situation. Just curious-thoughts appreciated.
I was assigned a 10 week rotation at a manual therapy outpatient clinic. Three PTs worked at the clinic: 2 were female and one was male. I'll call him Joe. Joe was my clinical instructor. He was in his late 20s and I was around 23 or 24 at the time. Joe was a good CI-he took time out to teach me different techniques, especially manual techniques, and would often quiz me during the day. One day he told me we were going to go over external pelvic floor palpation techniques. I told him I hadn't even learned that in school, and expressed some surprise (I think I thought he was kidding at first-maybe this was naive of me as a PT student). He told me that he was surprised I hadn't learned or practiced the technique in PT school. So I thought maybe my school was just conservative.
We headed to a treatment table in the back of the clinic. I believe the curtains were drawn for privacy; I know for a fact no patients were around nor were the other 2 female PTs. In other words, it was just me and Joe.
I laid on the table in a hook lying position while Joe began talking through the anatomy. I remember feeling very nervous and trying hard to maintain my composure. However I admit I did not voice my discomfort-I was embarrassed that I was just being naive and that this was completely normal. And, after all, he was my CI, and in charge of my grades for the rotation.
He started to palpate my lower abdomen and down lower, around my pelvic region but not internally. My hands were not under his (I'd been taught this is an approach sometimes used near sensitive areas, especially when working with the opposite sex). He didn't spend a lot of time, maybe a couple of minutes or so, before we switched positions so that I could practice on him. He assumed the same position and started talking me through the palpation technique as he had performed on me. Again, his hands were not underneath mine. I know this because I got extremely close to his genitalia as he coaxed my position. Nothing else happened, but it was a very, very uncomfortable "lesson." We returned to work soon after.
I recall thinking this was very odd because again, I'd never practiced this in school, and also (and more importantly), because we did not have a single patient to which this technique applied. I understand that in a working environment I may come across a patient that would benefit from pelvic floor palpation (although I have not yet in my outpatient clinic), so perhaps this was just a good lesson to learn. I guess my question is, was it done appropriately?
Following this episode, I did confer with 10 of my close girlfriends from school who were all in their own clinical rotations across the country. They all appeared to be somewhat shocked, but again, none of us had practiced this in school as we attended the same one. I also asked some non-PT school friends who I was living with the time and they were equally surprised, but they are not in the field, so I wasn't sure if I could rely so much on their reactions. I also never consulted with the other two female PTs who worked in my clinic, which, upon reflection would have been the wise thing to do. But they were all close with my CI and I feared sounding stupid and immature.
So, long story, but if any one has any comments about this, please let me know. Am I overreacting to a normal learning opportunity? Is this an appropriate technique for a male CI to teach his female student? There's a lot that makes me feel like maybe this is normal and if I was uncomfortable at all it was my responsibility to speak up. But part of me questions the appropriateness given the environment and situation. Just curious-thoughts appreciated.