“You’re really pretty,” he said, winking at her.
She tested her penlight twice against the screen of her gloved palm before replying, “Open your mouth and say ‘ah’, please.”
He raised a single eyebrow and ran his fingers through his dark hair. She did not return his smile.
“Oh, come on,” he playfully whined before opening his mouth. His light eyes watched her face as she scrutinized his palatal arches, uvula, tonsils, tongue, teeth, and buccal mucosa.
“Everything look okay in there?” the 22 year-old man lightly asked when she completed her examination.
“Yes,” the medical student curtly answered, averting her eyes while she peeled the gloves off of her slender hands.
“Good,” the patient answered. “You’re a great medical student, you know? Thorough, good manners, attractive—I appreciate your attention.”
Turning her back towards him to wash her hands, she rolled her eyes.
“Can I have a cup of water? My sore throat is dry,” he said as she was drying her hands.
Saying nothing, she plucked one cup from the tower of cups on the counter, filled it with tap water, and handed it to him.
“Thank you,” he answered, again winking at her.
She turned to leave the room and, feeling his eyes on her body, tugged at her short white coat in a lame effort to lengthen the hem.
Suddenly, she felt his hands on her shoulders, stopping her. She didn’t realize what happened to her until she had completely spun herself around to face him, that young face grinning mischievously at her:
He had kissed the top of her head.
He didn’t realize what happened to him until he was on the floor: She punched him in the left cheek and when his hands flew to his face in surprise, she kicked him in the groin. While rocking back and forth on the tiles and uttering high-pitched noises of discomfort, he looked up at the medical student through squinting eyes. She was holding the small cup of water…
… and then proceeded to pour the liquid onto his crotch of his pants. It splashed over his fingers, seeped into and darkened the canvas cloth, and dribbled onto the cold tiles.
“Don’t ever touch me,” she said before stepping out of the room.
He rolled back onto his other side, wincing and groaning in pain.
10 May 2007 |
Yes, this really happened. (No, it wasn’t me.)
Comment by Maria | 10 May 2007 @ 8:15pm
Oh, cheers for the medical student!
I like that she didn’t spill the water. HAH!
Comment by Bardiac | 10 May 2007 @ 8:47pm
Awww….you anticipated my only possible comment.
Comment by Justin Slotman | 10 May 2007 @ 11:21pm
Gosh, that’s some scary reaction. I hope she didn’t get into trouble for assaulting a patient.
Comment by tscd | 11 May 2007 @ 10:17am
well considering that HE sexually assualted her ( yes a kiss is a sexual assualt when it is against your will) Her reaction was probably pure instinct which is good. Someone prevents me from leaving a room and kisses me after unwelcome and inappropriate comments and I hope I would be able to act as quickly. The only thing is the extent of her reaction, but again you do what you need to protect yourself.
Comment by Missy | 12 May 2007 @ 8:52am
She might be excused the initial punch as a gut reaction to sexual assault - but the knee to the groin and subsequent humiliation could be considered OTT.
Comment by tscd | 12 May 2007 @ 9:32am
This is where I always get confused. In “real” life if a complete stranger was hitting on me then put his hands on me and kissed me without warning while preventing me from escaping I would protect myself to my utmost ability. I would assume rape was his next step. But in a professional setting this is “over the top”.
Why?
Why when a patient is throwing punches and kicking me do I have to take it? Why do I have no rights the moment I step into the patient care area?
I think patients have a go at us because they instinctively know we wont react appropriately. We will make excuses for them and downplay the events.
I think it’s time we start reacting correctly. When a patient assaults us it is time to start charging them.
Just because we work in the health care field doesn’t mean we are your punching bags. I don’t care if you are sick and unhappy. You have no right to assault us.
Can you tell I am sick of the general public and their never ending obnoxious behaviour?
I think we should start following the lead of some countries who REFUSE service to the foul mouthed violent idiots.
What happened to manners and etiquette?
I guess parents were too busy fulfilling Johnnys every wish making sure his “self esteem” never ever took a hit to explain to him that those other people he sees everywhere aren’t extras in the movie of his life.
Comment by mo | 13 May 2007 @ 12:24am