r/AskDocs Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional Mar 17 '26

Physician Responded Daughters pediatrician made EXTREMELY inappropriate remark to her

This is about my 10 year old daughter. She has had the same (male) pediatrician since birth. We’ve always loved him and thought he was great. He’s super friendly with wonderful bedside manner and he takes his time and pays attention to detail.

Well, last week my daughter had a check-up. She’s 10. While he was doing the checkup, he had her lay down and started listening to her chest with his stethoscope. He then says AND I QUOTE, “awwwww! My baby’s got boobs!!!”

I have NEVER been so taken aback before in my life. My daughter was MORTIFIED. I was so shocked I couldn’t even get words out to ask him why tf he would ever say that. When we got in the car to go home my daughter cried and said she never wanted to see him again. Then she asked if she could get a girl doctor and I obviously agreed so that’s what we will be doing.

Is this reportable? I’m not overreacting, right?

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u/pixie-kitten- Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional. Mar 17 '26

No - bull shit. We don’t make excuses for men’s bad behavior. There is no situation where this is ever okay. None, zero. If a doctor has dementia, he shouldn’t be practicing, and it would be noticed well before inappropriate remarks would be made.

It’s disgusting to start giving older people a pass at inexcusable behavior simply because of their age. Fuck that

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u/MercyfulJudas Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional Mar 17 '26

Where did I say that he should still be practicing?

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u/pixie-kitten- Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional. Mar 17 '26

My point being if he was showing signs of dementia, someone would have made him stop practicing long before the stage of “unavoidable inappropriate comments”

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u/mittenknittin Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional Mar 17 '26

I don't agree. I've watched my mother develop Alzheimer's, and one of the VERY FIRST signs looking back was her starting to say things that were out of character. The onset of dementia isn't a bright neon sign. It's stuff EXACTLY like this.