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Do I have any options?

Four years ago, when I was 14, I had a skin infection on my thigh and chest area and my mother took me to the doctor. The doctor asked my mother if her 12-year-old son could stay in the room while I was being examined and my mother consented and they let the doctor's son be present while I was completely naked. I'm female. Can I sue the doctor?

Reply 1

Doubt it. You could have said no, why didn't you? It's also kinda stretching the realms of reality that a doctor would have a 12 year old child at their work let alone ask them to stay during peoples intimate appointments or not take the patients wishes into account.

"Why is there a random 12 year old in my doctors appointment?"

'He's my son, is that ok'

"No, not in any circumstances whatsoever"

Reply 2

Original post
by StriderHort
Doubt it. You could have said no, why didn't you? It's also kinda stretching the realms of reality that a doctor would have a 12 year old child at their work let alone ask them to stay during peoples intimate appointments or not take the patients wishes into account.
"Why is there a random 12 year old in my doctors appointment?"
'He's my son, is that ok'
"No, not in any circumstances whatsoever"

The doctor let her 12 year old son see me completely naked. Why can't I sue her?
Original post
by JessicaC2024
The doctor let her 12 year old son see me completely naked. Why can't I sue her?

I would think your Mum consenting would put the kibosh on that one.

Why she would think that was appropriate I cannot fathom.

Reply 4

Original post
by Admit-One
I would think your Mum consenting would put the kibosh on that one.
Why she would think that was appropriate I cannot fathom.

Why does my mother consenting prevent me suing? The doctor asked if her 12 year old son (a minor) could see a 14 year old girl completely naked (who was also a minor). Why was the doctor allowed to do this just because my mother consented? There was no reason for the boy to see me completely naked.
Original post
by JessicaC2024
Why does my mother consenting prevent me suing? The doctor asked if her 12 year old son (a minor) could see a 14 year old girl naked (who was also a minor). Why was the doctor allowed to do this just because my mother consented? There was no reason for the boy to see me naked.

I agree with your last point.

However I am saying that your Mum being completely fine with it, and consenting to it on your behalf, may well have hampered any potential legal action.

Is this all hypothetical, have you got funds to hire legal representation?

Reply 6

Original post
by JessicaC2024
The doctor let her 12 year old son see me completely naked. Why can't I sue her?

Honestly, because most people will think it's made up, it sounds farcical that a doctor would do such a thing and just happen to meet your mum who would allow such a thing. If they were bringing their kid to appointments they would be buried in complaints the same day imo

Reply 7

Original post
by StriderHort
Honestly, because most people will think it's made up, it sounds farcical that a doctor would do such a thing and just happen to meet your mum who would allow such a thing. If they were bringing their kid to appointments they would be buried in complaints the same day imo

Would a solicitor be able to help if I contacted one?

Reply 8

Original post
by Admit-One
I agree with your last point.
However I am saying that your Mum being completely fine with it, and consenting to it on your behalf, may well have hampered any potential legal action.
Is this all hypothetical, have you got funds to hire legal representation?

Why would my mother consenting to it hamper legal action? My mother could give me permission to steal a car but that would not be legal. The doctor made the request.

Reply 9

Original post
by JessicaC2024
Would a solicitor be able to help if I contacted one?

I honestly don't know. But just to throw the idea around, who are you actually suing, the doctor, the GP practice or your mum? If the practice allowed a child to interfere in appointments that's just as much on them as the doctor, but ultimately your mum has responsibility of care and gave permission for this? I asked why you didn't refuse and you didn't answer, I feel 99.99% of people would have simply refused the kid being there, let alone getting nude in front of them.

How would you even prove any of this 4 years down the line? the kid won't be in your medical notes, you won't have any CCTV or reliable witnesses and your mum is hardly going to take your side since she gave permission and would also be in trouble.

I'm not going to sit and call you a liar, I'm just saying this is incredibly hard to believe and doesn't really add up, I feel a doctor who actually did this would have it blow up in their face immediately, like someone would complain to the medial board etc that same day, even if not you, but the appointment before or after you etc. And as much as doctors can make mistakes and do bad stuff like everyone else, they would know that they were placing their job and reputation at massive immediate risk by trying to bring a near teenage child to work with them, and that's before we even consider nudity. It's genuinely stretching probability.

Reply 10

Original post
by JessicaC2024
Why would my mother consenting to it hamper legal action? My mother could give me permission to steal a car but that would not be legal. The doctor made the request.

She has duty of care regarding medical treatment like all parents of minors. The same reason that she chooses where you live and go to school.

The doctor made a request unrelated to treatment, a request can be refused, but she apparently saw no issues and made the choice for you and you went along with it without any noted protest.

So regardless of what request was made, she's the one that said it was ok on your behalf and has to legally accept some responsibility as your parent making care choices for you.

None of this still explains why you didn't say 'No, are you f*****g mental?', even if you had walked to reception and said 'I'm being pressured to undress in front of a random 12 year old' they'd have prob called 999.

Reply 11

Original post
by StriderHort
She has duty of care regarding medical treatment like all parents of minors. The same reason that she chooses where you live and go to school.
The doctor made a request unrelated to treatment, a request can be refused, but she apparently saw no issues and made the choice for you and you went along with it without any noted protest.
So regardless of what request was made, she's the one that said it was ok on your behalf and has to legally accept some responsibility as your parent making care choices for you.
None of this still explains why you didn't say 'No, are you f*****g mental?', even if you had walked to reception and said 'I'm being pressured to undress in front of a random 12 year old' they'd have prob called 999.

But my mother choosing where I live and go to school is a reasonable choice. How is letting a 12 year old boy see me completely naked also considered a choice my mother can make? That is completely different and not reasonable.

Reply 12

Original post
by JessicaC2024
But my mother choosing where I live and go to school is a reasonable choice. How is letting a 12 year old boy see me completely naked also considered a choice my mother can make? That is completely different and not reasonable.

I've no idea. I don't know your mother and you'd need to ask her, that's why I'm asking who you would sue, as she's the one that said it was ok on your behalf and you apparently had no issue with it at the time.

Reply 13

Original post
by StriderHort
I've no idea. I don't know your mother and you'd need to ask her, that's why I'm asking who you would sue, as she's the one that said it was ok on your behalf and you apparently had no issue with it at the time.

I would sue the doctor for letting her son be in the room and see me naked.

Reply 14

Original post
by JessicaC2024
I would sue the doctor for letting her son be in the room and see me naked.

A clear breach of the doctors duties to be sure, but why did you consent to it or let someone else do so without complaint?

As said, what could you prove 4 years on if you didn't object at the time?

Reply 15

Original post
by JessicaC2024
Four years ago, when I was 14, I had a skin infection on my thigh and chest area and my mother took me to the doctor. The doctor asked my mother if her 12-year-old son could stay in the room while I was being examined and my mother consented and they let the doctor's son be present while I was completely naked. I'm female. Can I sue the doctor?

This is clearly troll nonsense and/or a fantasy post.
No UK doctor would have a random child present for any intimate examination.
And considering where the skin issues were, it would not have needed a naked examination anyway..
(edited 9 months ago)
There are so many holes in this story that it's incredibly difficult to take any of it seriously. Just on the off-chance that this wildly improbable scenario did take place, I suggest you just arrange a consultation with a solicitor (many do a free 30 minute initial consultation) because there's nobody on TSR that would be able to advise you.
Is this for real?
I am not saying you are lying, but i find it a bit strange that a doctor would have their child in the room (where all manner of confidential stuff gets discussed).
But no you cannot sue. As a minor, your mum gave permission on your behalf for the 12 year old to stay in the room. She could have said no.

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