I recently had my first doctor refuse to wear a mask for me.
They confidently told me “new science shows you only have to wear one when you’re sick”.
I reminded them that asymptomatic transmission is real and that I’m immunocompromised & have been hospitalized for a cold…
They still refused.
I’ve only had one other healthcare worker refuse and it was a tech so I was able to request a different person perform my test (I have masks required as an accommodation in my medical chart).
Sadly I can’t just request a different doctor.
Interestingly this was one of the only appointments I’ve had where I haven’t brought a man with me.
Male friends usually accompany me and just sit in the room wearing a mask and it tends to increase compliance.
Once again misogyny in medicine rears its ugly head.
I was fortunate to be wearing a fitted N99 and have a laminar flow air purifier, so I was as protected as possible. This is a privilege not afforded to everyone.
But I also have no natural defences.
I shouldn’t be expected to risk my health to get healthcare.
There was no logical reason the doctor couldn’t put on a mask.
They had them in the clinic.
I had extra N95s in my bag.
They just didn’t want to.
They found the idea that they might infect me to be offensive.
I am begging healthcare workers to stop doing this.
You should be masking by default.
With everything we know about how COVID is transmitted it’s ridiculous we don’t have mandatory masking in healthcare.
At the bare minimum, you should mask mirror.
You shouldn’t put the onus on the patient to beg for you to do the right thing.
You shouldn’t be spreading misinformation about how masks are only needed if you’re sick.
You shouldn’t be risking your patients health.
The imbalance of power is real and needs to be respected.
I had no options in the moment. It was care I urgently needed and I couldn’t simply walk out.
I was confident enough to push the issue a little, but not past the point where it might compromise my care.
I had to do a quick risk analysis and decide to take my chances.
No patient should have to do that.
We need masks and clean air in healthcare.
We need doctors to show us they understand the science of airborne transmission.
No one should ever have to choose between care and covid.
#covid #COVIDisAirborne #sarscov2 #disability #ableism #healthcare
