Assuming Assumptions

We have so many cultural – and illogical – assumptions. The damnable thing about them is actually recognizing that they are present in the first place.

In the medical field, it’s common to have the person doing a procedure to be the same gender as the patient – or at least have someone of the same gender in the room. (think mammogram here)

I’ve heard this described as either being for the patient’s comfort or to legally protect the doctor.

But for either of those justifications to make sense, one must assume that all parties involved are unambiguously straight.

Maybe instead of defaulting to counter factual assumptions, we could instead work on the actual issues involved.