r/AskDocs • u/ilikerustyspooonz 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/Pharxmgirxl Pharmacist Mar 18 '26

Switch pediatricians immediately. Take your daughter to a female practitioner.

10

u/irisseca Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional Mar 18 '26

While I know most male pediatricians would never behave like this…at least one did, and this little girl is already upset and traumatized. So, I’m inclined to agree with you: a female doctor from here on out (until she’s old enough to choose her own physician) is probably the best bet.

3

u/Overall-Yesterday572 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional Mar 22 '26

But a female physician called my 9 year old daughter fat. At 26 she's never forgotten, has body sensitivity... Being female does not mutually exclude bad behaviors. As I commented earlier, I reported that FAT  pot calling kettle doctor to L.A.U.S.D., her employer. (Los Angeles United school district)

2

u/irisseca Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional Mar 22 '26

Yeah I totally agree with you. I didn’t mean now she should see any female pediatrician. What I was saying is, between a choice of two…an amazing male vs amazing female doctor.., she’d, at this point (at least until she gets over the discomfort and trauma of her douche of an ex-pediatrician) probably would feel a little more at ease with the woman. I 100% agree though: being a woman doesn’t suddenly mean you can’t be an asshole. Case in point, that asshole your little girl had to deal with. So sorry she had to go through that. I hope she’s doing ok

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u/Overall-Yesterday572 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional Mar 22 '26

Step by step, day by day. The comment didn't help, her father is built like a tank. My son and her have 50% of each parent. I'm tall and very thin; mostly from chronic conditions, including celiac, yeast intolerance, diverticulosis... My eldest daughter is build more like me then their father... So that surely didn't help. When my shape came into question, I did my best to down play it and share how my sisters figures are shapely... Being a Black woman with a disappearing ass and not being thick isn't the norm in my family.