Harassment during medical exam in Moscow

[searcher 1]

I was wondering if anyone else has had a fiance use the clinic M.O.M.????

The official name of MOM is International Organization for Migration but the initials in Russian are MOM

My fiance and others as I am learning have had very unpleasant experiences at that clinic.

I a trying to locate others who have also been harassed and wish to file a complaint.

You can read about it and find more information here: http://russianmeetingplace.com/forums/show...93&page=1&pp=15

[djcess 0]

that's just sad... sorry to hear that

[iceyspots 0]

Harassed how? Sexually? Verbally?

This is uncalled for!

[searcher 1]

Hi,

Thanks. Another person I spoke to (who wishes to remain anonymous) said his fiance had to strip completely nude for her exam.

We questioned whether that was necessary or not because the exam is mainly to determine if the person has some type of communicable disease such as AIDS/HIV or some other STD or tuberculosis.

After mentioning this to my fiance, she said she was also required to stip completely nude. She said it was not a good experience.

This is the private message I got from the other person:

Sorry it has taken me a while to respond. I talked with ******* on Victory Day about her experience with the medical exam. She thinks she used MOM.

Her doctor was a woman. (Of course, it is Russia.) I thought her doctor was a man. Hence my inaccurate accusation of sexual harassment in the public post.

Right after the examination, when she was explaining the various ways it was degrading, she mentioned that the doctor made her take off all her clothes for some sort of examination.

But, if the exam is required to consist of a chest X-ray to rule out TB and a blood test to rule out HIV and syphilis, then why the nude physical exam, except perhaps to harass the women.

She expects disrespect in this process, and she got it both from Russian employees at the US Embassy and at the medical exam.

My fiance said her doctor was male but she had to do the same things.

My fiance wants to wait until she is out of the country before filing a complaint.

Both, me and the anonymous person had the same thoughts, which explains why she would want to wait.

Here is why:

It is my impression that MOM is well connected with the Russian government -- and as Russia become more pro-natalist we may see more pressure again RW who wish to emigrate for marriage. Fewer Russian babies in Russia is something their govt will not want to see. So she has good instincts to want to wait until she is out. This consideration kept me from writing immediately to the Undersecretary of State for Management, who would seem to be a logical place to start. I don't want to make matters harder than necessary for my fiance when she goes through this again.

So, let us proceed, but carefully so we don't hurt more those whom we love. If you use my information, please let me know and please do not identify me.

There has been various stories in the news about some politicians in Russia wanting to prohibit women from leaving (due to their declining population), here is a link to a story from June of 2005:

http://mosnews.com/news/2005/06/06/russianwives.shtml

I don't have any other links at the moment but I do recall hearing other similar news stories.

[LiszyandKenny 5]

Well.. here in Brazil we have to do the same... they want to make sure if you are really a woman...

[Satellite 1]

A female asked to stripp before a male doctor for a medical exam is not harassment. Making unnecessary sexual advances or comments during the exam is. Please give more specifics.

[mrswooten4ever 0]

A female nurse can be requested to be present if the DR is male. Was this not offered? We were not exprected to strip naked before the Dr at London. We wore a gown with underwear underneath. DR took a quick peek to confirm gender that was all

Adele

[searcher 1]

My original complaint in regards to harassment was not about having to strip (although some women thought it was unusual and/or unnecessary - i'm not a doctor, I don't know).

Their complaint was about how they were treated. My fiance say in her case the doctor (who was Russian therefore no problems due to the languabe barrier) blatently accused her of having tuberculosis and accused her of trying to hide it.

She went to the hospital, as mentioned by one poster, there were about 30 other women there she said. After telling the doctor there about the accusations and treatment she received at MOM, he told her that they are the only clinic that makes refers so many women there. They also deal with the other clinics. That day everyone there was sent there by MOM.

I will ask her for more specifics. If there behavior was typical, then there is nothing I can do.

I did ask her if she was sure the doctor was accusing her and she said he was very direct in his accusations. At a minimum, his behavior was unprofessional.

One that that made me wonder about possible harassment was that other women (one's she knows and the fiance of another man i'm in contact with) have felt they were treated disrespectfully.... Perhaps it could be just their perception....

I'll try to get more specifics.

[motu 6]

This reminds me of several posts on PBH Colombia - they have two doctors recommended by the consulate - one is a male and another female. Many posters said the male doctor was harassing the women by making them strip. I asked my fiancee which doctor she is going to because I have read some complaints and she said that she chose the male doctor because her friends who have seen both the doctors consider him to be more thorough and professional. So! Its how the patient feels about disrobing that was the basis of the complaint in that case.

In my own case, when I go for medical - I am made to wear a gown or stay in my underwear and then the doctor probes several areas - unpleasant yes but necessary for a 'physical' exam. (I am a male so don't know exactly what the females go through.) But I consider being naked for brief periods of examination to be completely OK.

Maybe some of the Russian women are worried because they have to be naked for the exam and could be that they do not understand the whole issue of medical examination. Good Luck