Embarrassing problem? Show it to television viewers

'You lose all your dignity don't you? How often have we heard those words? Few of us are perfect physical specimens and the disrobing required for many procedures can discourage patients from attending. Like most people, I do my best to keep loss of dignity to a minimum, but I was somewhat nonplussed when preparing to do a smear when the patient asked 'can you do it without looking?' This was a request made in all seriousness and, although I hated to admit to a weakness in my repertoire, I had to say no.