Dr. B's Finest Kind Medical clinic and Fish Market

In the US Army, men line up in their birthday suits for exams, but traditionally we cover up women.

In the days of cloth examining gowns, it was not a problem, but now you get a skimpy one that falls apart and barely covers you, especially if you are above a C cup.

Now things are changing, thanks to our Muslim patients:
 

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/01/national/01muslim.html?pagewanted=print&position=

Actually, at our clinic, we usually "gown" women in a short top, and if we are checking the bottom, I cover it with a long sheet. If they are large on top, I tell them to put it on backward, so they don't have to try to hold it closed. Then I move the coverings around, only baring the small part I am examining.

Sounds like this is merely the Easterners doing the same thing as we traditionally do to help the modesty of our Native American, Bible Belt Christian, and LDS patients here in Oklahoma.

Shyness is still a problem in examinations, especially for teenagers and elders. I often ask my male collegue to do the genital exams on my shy prepubescent boy patients who come in for school physicals.

Historically, the impetus for women to become doctors was just that: Modesty. Elizabeth Blackwell became a doctor because her friend expressed embarassment of being examined by a male dotor. (She was the first American woman to graduate from an American Medical School).

As for modesty: Until you've had a little old lady say: Oh, I'm glad you are a lady doctor" and then show you a huge breast cancer, you don't appreciate that hesitency in showing private parts of your body still exists today.

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