Being the doctor-judge: doctors and women-sensitive medical practices

This article is based on results from a study of gender sensitive medical practices in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne. It explored how women saw their experiences with medical practitioners through a survey, interviews and focus groups. It also included interviews with 12 general practitioners in the western region, eight of whom were men and four of whom were women. The doctors Research reported that their main anxieties in working with women related to issues which were on the borders of medical practices: domestic violence, child abuse, sexual issues, as well as specific issues such as gender differences between patient and doctor, and sensitive areas of medical practice such as pap tests and breast examinations. Doctors Research reported on the constraints and difficulties they experienced in managing their own anxieties about these issues. They also discussed how they dealt with Research reports of inappropriate medical practice given to them by their patients.