Iâm gonna respond to this in a weird way but just. Stay with me for a minute. Let me do my x-ray tech thing real quick. I agree wholeheartedly with what youâre saying, and Iâll come back to it, I swear.
The original purpose of a pregnancy test before an x-ray was to make sure thereâs no fetus being exposed to radiation, which can result in the worst case scenario in birth defects and miscarriage. Radiology and medical imaging in general operates on a risk-vs-benefit scale. Is doing a chest x-ray to see if you have pneumonia worth a small risk to the fetus? In many cases, of course it is. I personally donât like x-raying pregnant people (not that it has anything to do with pregnant people, but more about how most doctors donât understand the first thing about radiation safety when they over-order exams), but sometimes you gotta. Pregnant people get sick and need healthcare. Thatâs that.
But the thing is, thatâs when people KNOW theyâre pregnant. We explain the risks and benefits to them, so they can make an informed decision. Some people refuse, some donât. Itâs their choice.
But if youâre pregnant and donât know it yet, you canât make that informed decision.
So we offer pregnancy tests to people who are unsure of their status in that regard. To give them peace of mind if nothing else. If somebody is sure theyâre not pregnant, theyâre still making an informed decision. Most places have a form you can sign saying thereâs no chance of pregnancy and y'all can get on with the test. I fill it about 20,000 of those papers every shift at my hospital. I know they exist.
What happens a lot, though, is that you go to the ER (for example), and the doctor orders an x-ray and an hcg, and the nurse asks for a urine sample or draws some blood without telling you itâs for a pregnancy test.
Y'all. That is not informed consent.
So then (if your ER is anything like mine), you have to wait 10 years for a nurse to have time to test the urine or for the lab to process the blood. And all that time wasted for nothing, because you knew you werenât pregnant.
Next time you get an x-ray, tell the nurse up front you donât want a pregnancy test and that youâll sign whatever form you need to.
It shouldnât be your responsibility to do that, tho. Thatâs the thing. Doctors and nurses should inform you that theyâre running a pregnancy test, because itâs your right as a patient to understand what kind of care youâre receiving and to refuse any exam or test you see fit.
But doctors donât like hearing ânoâ, so they donât tell you so there wonât be a fight. That has to change.
OP, I want to tell you that, no matter what a doctor or nurse or anyone might tell you, x-ray techs know the rules about radiation safety better than they do, and they cannot REQUIRE a pregnancy test. They can suggest and recommend it, but they cannot REQUIRE it. It IS sexist and paternalistic not to listen to a patient in any way, but especially in regards to what can be a very sensitive subject. No one should force you to undergo a useless test that only serves to delay your care.
TL;DR: start refusing those motherfucking pregnancy tests when you walk in the front door, y'all. Itâs your right as a patient. Make them listen to you until we start teaching our new doctors not to be assholes.
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