Mr. and Mrs. Sudan are patients at a medical clinic where you are employed. The couple is originally from Israel

Question

Mrs. Sudan arrives for an appointment for a physical examination. You call Mrs. Sudan into the treatment room and her husband insists on accompanying her. Explain the significance of this and discuss the proper way for the medical assistant to handle the situation?
What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER: The medical assistant should consider the patients culture while working in the examination room. Some cultures, particularly Middle Eastern, may require the husband's presence during the examination of his wife. The medical assistant should take verbal and nonverbal cues from the patients to help identify particular issues of cultural diversity in the examination room. The medical assistant should respect the wishes of the patient and her husband. The medical assistant should remain neutral, refraining from any derogatory comments or gestures. The medical assistant should allow the husband to accompany his wife and inform the physician of the patient's wishes.