Dark medical secrets exposed; what really happens inside operating rooms

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A controversial essay has been published by the Annals of Internal Medicine last Monday, shedding important points of the dark secrets medicine experts are afraid to talk about within their circle. In a twisted tale that people do not wish to hear about and hope are untrue for their peace of mind, an anonymous medical practitioner opens up about what really happens when patients become powerless under the hands of doctors in operating rooms.

CBS News reports that in the essay entitled 'Our Family Secret', the unknown writer shares two experiences he has encountered where physicians have acted inappropriately towards their patients.

According to the editors of the journal, they have decided to publish the essay to open the eyes of medical practitioners that these types of behaviors are unacceptable. Dr. Christine Laine, the Editor-in-Chief of the journal defends their decision by stating that although everyone has agreed that the stories in the essay are beyond revolting and may damage their profession, it is the very reason that they considered exposing it for the public to read about. They have decided to keep the name of the author anonymous to protect all the people involved in the incidents.

In the essay, the anonymous author has described how the story has been told to him while he was teaching a class, Yahoo! Health News writes. He vividly recalls asking the medical students if they have anyone to forgive or can't forgive during their clinical experiences. A young medical student named David has bravely recounted how one surgeon has inappropriately commented, "I bet she's enjoying this" while cleaning the vaginal area and thighs of a woman who underwent a hysterectomy.

The author also has shared his own experience, while he was assisting a childbirth, where Dr. Canby has been called to stop the woman, Mrs. Lopez, from bleeding profusely. Dr. Canby has stated that the woman experienced uterine atony, a condition where the uterus did not contract properly, hence massaging the uterus is the only way to stop the bleeding.

This is where Dr. Canby started acting inappropriately towards the patient, saying something like, "Atta girl, that's what I like, a nice and tight uterus." and began singing 'La Cucaracha' while keeping his whole hand inside the patient's vagina.

Washington Post adds that although the essay may sound squeamish and graphically detailed, the author and editors hope it can the starting point for medical educators, especially students, to speak up about such experiences.

President Deborah Hall of the American Medical Student Associations shares that students might feel reluctant to object because they are aware that they are in the bottom of the hierarchy in a field populated by doctors, technicians, nurses and medical experts.