# How strange/inappropriate was this doctor's behavior? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895 "2013-09-03T15:54:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/21 "2013-09-03T17:35:19Z")
Dump the quack. Get a doctor, not a witch doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/22 "2013-09-03T17:41:39Z")
I usually try to play “angel’s advocate” in situations like this, and attempt to ameliorate one’s idea of the defendant’s attitude. Nope, I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/23 "2013-09-03T17:43:19Z")
> [@Silver\_Fire](#): > > Not that I necessarily doubt your story, OP, but it’s so outrageous that I can hardly wrap my mind around it. Well if you don’t, I will. It sounds like fiction. Or was this meant to be another hypothetical, and you just forgot to make it a poll? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/24 "2013-09-03T17:52:27Z")
Are you going to report her as well as changing practitioners? Surely asking someone to pray with you contravenes some code or other? If anyone does have any genuine sexual health problems, and she’s their doctor, they’ll hold out ages before reporting them. That could, no, will, cause people to die much earlier than they should. My own doctor’s is called by a religious name and seems to be vaguely connected to a church despite being NHS. But they know I’m a lesbian and have never had the slightest problem with it. They serve a community that is mostly not Christian. It is possible to be a Christian doctor and also not be a divisory death-causing fuckwit. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/25 "2013-09-03T17:58:24Z")
As someone who lives in the same city as you, it would be great if you could PM me this doctor’s name so I can be sure to never see her. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/26 "2013-09-03T18:02:09Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Are you going to report her as well as changing practitioners? Surely asking someone to pray with you contravenes some code or other? I suppose I could go to Angie’s List and pan her, though I suspect that, in Memphis, reporting that a doctor suggested that she and her patients pray together would be viewed by more than half as a positive. As to whether there was some medical ethics issue with the prayer issue, I dunno. > [@](#): > > If anyone does have any genuine sexual health problems, and she’s their doctor, they’ll hold out ages before reporting them. That could, no, will, cause people to die much earlier than they should. Yeah, that’s likely what I should focus on. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/27 "2013-09-03T18:06:28Z")
Egads, **Skald** , you do get yourself into weird situations, don’t you? The doctor’s behavior was unacceptable and unprofessional in my opinion. I have no comment about your reported sexual prowess except to say that I am unworthy to comment about your reported sexual prowess. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/28 "2013-09-03T18:12:51Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > Egads, **Skald** , you do get yourself into weird situations, don’t you? > The doctor’s behavior was unacceptable and unprofessional in my opinion. > I have no comment about your reported sexual prowess except to say that I am unworthy to comment about your reported sexual prowess. No sexual prowess involved. There was years of sexual acting out in a way that left me profoundly unhappy–not in retrospect, but AT THE TIME. It’s no more something to boast about, or be proud of, than it would be if I’d said I used to get shitfaced drunk every night. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/29 "2013-09-03T18:15:00Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > My long-time primary care physician just retired. On Friday I had my first appointment with a new PCP. It’ll also be my last Yeah, that’s the strategy I would have followed also. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/30 "2013-09-03T18:23:32Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Well if you don’t, I will. It sounds like fiction. Or was this meant to be another hypothetical, and you just forgot to make it a poll? Another poster shared a similar story in this thread. There is a level of skepticism around here that sometimes seems bizarre, any somewhat odd experience or story is called into question. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/31 "2013-09-03T18:56:09Z")
My therapist is always wanting to pray with me and it really bothers me considering how many times I’ve told her I’m not a believer. I get a “let’s just do it anyway!” as if I’ll one day change my mind. It’s really inappropriate but she’s helpful in other ways so I deal with it. I think for that issue you should just ask if it’s worth the annoyance. The suggestion for an HIV test seems appropriate ONCE. If you say no it shouldn’t be asked again. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/32 "2013-09-03T19:02:37Z")
I laugh at all the outrage about the prayer because I’m in Memphis too, and I’ve had that happen so many times it doesn’t even faze me. I wonder if it’s not because so many of our hospitals and clinics here are faith-based. Everyone I see is through St. Francis (that’s what my state insurance covers) so I’d be more surprised if there wasn’t some religion in my health care. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/33 "2013-09-03T19:04:51Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > My therapist is always wanting to pray with me and it really bothers me considering how many times I’ve told her I’m not a believer. I get a “let’s just do it anyway!” as if I’ll one day change my mind. It’s really inappropriate but she’s helpful in other ways so I deal with it. I think for that issue you should just ask if it’s worth the annoyance. She’s going about it wrong, and I don’t know what sort of therapy you’re in, but there’s evidence that praying can help you mentally even if you don’t believe. Meditation and other similar activities designed to clear the mind show a similar benefit and maybe your therapist isn’t aware of that. Or, maybe she is just being really inappropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/34 "2013-09-03T19:14:42Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I laugh at all the outrage about the prayer because I’m in Memphis too, and I’ve had that happen so many times it doesn’t even faze me. I wonder if it’s not because so many of our hospitals and clinics here are faith-based. Everyone I see is through St. Francis (that’s what my state insurance covers) so I’d be more surprised if there wasn’t some religion in my health care. I can imagine that, but it’s never happened to me here before. And that’s including when I was broke and going to Christ Community clinic, or when I went to a therapist affiliated (read: renting office space from) First Congregational Church. > [@bup](#): > > She’s going about it wrong, and I don’t know what sort of therapy you’re in, but there’s evidence that praying can help you mentally even if you don’t believe. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/35 "2013-09-03T19:14:45Z")
> [@bup](#): > > She’s going about it wrong, and I don’t know what sort of therapy you’re in, but there’s evidence that praying can help you mentally even if you don’t believe. > > Meditation and other similar activities designed to clear the mind show a similar benefit and maybe your therapist isn’t aware of that. > > Or, maybe she is just being really inappropriate. We live in the Bible Belt. She is being inappropriate. My dental hygienist works in an Obama bashing nearly every visit, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/36 "2013-09-03T19:16:05Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I can imagine that, but it’s never happened to me here before. And that’s including when I was broke and going to Christ Community clinic, or when I went to a therapist affiliated (read: renting office space from) First Congregational Church. > > Cite? Ha. I saw a “therapist” there too. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/37 "2013-09-03T19:21:34Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I can imagine that, but it’s never happened to me here before. And that’s including when I was broke and going to Christ Community clinic, or when I went to a therapist affiliated (read: renting office space from) First Congregational Church. Yeah but come on, that’s First Congo! 😃 When I was pregnant I had to go to Medicos Para Familia on Covington Pike. In their waiting room you will see a fine Virgen de Guadalupe mural and they pray whether you like it or not. Now that made me uncomfortable! ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/38 "2013-09-03T19:24:30Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I laugh at all the outrage about the prayer because I’m in Memphis too, and I’ve had that happen so many times it doesn’t even faze me. I wonder if it’s not because so many of our hospitals and clinics here are faith-based. Everyone I see is through St. Francis (that’s what my state insurance covers) so I’d be more surprised if there wasn’t some religion in my health care. I’m in Nashville and my doctor and I are both Catholic. She _never_ asks to pray with me. My mother was treated more times than I can count at St. Thomas hospital, and although there was a crucifix on the wall in her hospital room and Mass said daily in the chapel, no one ever asked to pray with us. StG ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/39 "2013-09-03T19:33:00Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Cite? _**[How God Changes Your Brain](http://books.google.com/books/about/How_God_Changes_Your_Brain.html?id=rayqhfjmDIgC)**_. Fascinating book. Apparently not what **RushGeekGirl** ’s therapist was after, though. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895/40 "2013-09-03T19:35:06Z")
When I had my first colonoscopy, a chaplain came by while I was waiting for the procedure. She offered to pray with me, but you know, that’s her job. I told her that I was an atheist, but I’d be glad to talk about other things. We had a nice chat, joked around a bit, and afterwards, I thanked her for stopping by, because she took my mind off the procedure. I was extremely anxious about it. I think that it was appropriate for her to ask if I wanted the service, and she didn’t push it on me. And I hope that I left a good impression on her, too. She seemed to enjoy talking about her education and background. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strange-inappropriate-was-this-doctors-behavior/667895.md?page=3)