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First of all, let me say this was not my first surgery with Dr. Yousefi. This was the first one, however, where I felt like I was on an assembly line. Things were just done to me. There was very little checking in with my comfort, and I was forced to walk in only a paper thong from the OR door to the operating table in front of five people and get on it before my dignity was restored and I was covered up. When the nurse anesthetist put the leads on me, she just reached in under what can only be described as a mat that was put over me, and I was startled. She didn't even let me know she was going to touch me. I did have a conversation with the Dr. and his HR person about my treatment, and both acknowledged my discomfort, and then asked why I didn't speak up. They acknowledged that they do this to every patient. They said no one else had ever complained. It was suggested by the Dr. that I am obsessing about this, and I need to speak to someone. That pretty much sums up how concerned they are with my comfort, and yours. The feeling of powerlessness, of being just another body was overwhelming. I think I was on autopilot. I just wanted to get through it. This was NOT WORTH the loss of self-esteem, and the questioning of my ability to defend myself. I just stood there mortified when the male nurse removed my robe at the entrance to the OR, and then stood right next to me. He did not afford me any privacy. I just froze. I realized I had better get on that table, or the embarrassment and humiliation wasn't going to end, because everyone was waiting for me. That was the longest most embarrassing moment in my life. This is another example of men invading women's safe spaces, women helping them do it, and men being so surprised when some women don't like it. The worst kind of betrayal, though, is that there were FOUR other female medical professionals in that room, and ALL of them thought this behavior was totally appropriate. What happened to women having each other’s backs? The nurse who did my pre-op just raved about how she was going to take GREAT care of me. She was the one who stood right next to me while the male nurse removed my robe, grinning at me like ‘boy isn’t this great’. I have never been so disappointed in my own kind.

I have now learned to NEVER assume anything when going into a scheduled/voluntary medical situation, especially in these 'surgery suites'. Ask questions, write down on the contract/permission papers what your wishes are. Put in writing that you are to be informed of who is in the OR. These are elective surgeries, and had I known that a man was going to remove the last shred of dignity I had, and I would be forced to walk in a paper thong in front of every person in the room, I would have NOT done this. Put in writing that the removal/placing of clothing/covering or exposing body parts is not to be done by anyone but a female nurse while you are awake, and done with emphasis on your dignity. This wasn't worth it. To all the ladies I raved about Dr. Yousefi to, I rescind my glowing review. I hope you find the beauty you seek, and that your experience is a comforting, positive one, and not like mine.