Journeyers,
WOMEN EVERYWHERE NEED US!
Last
week I posted this
piece, one designed to encourage women to have their annual mammograms
done.
I
highlighted how my recent mammogram experience made my week’s Happy Happens column.
I
briefly discussed a few of the physical and emotional discomforts we women (and
men) face in the name of good health.
During
the exam I asked the nurse if I could take a few photos of the machine.
The
intent was to demystify the procedure and to disarm some of the anxiety so many
people face at the mere thought of the experiment.
Nurse
Arr allowed me to take the photos, but told me I needed to contact the PR
department for approval.
Being
the law-abiding, good doobie that I
am, I phoned their guy (FROM THE HOSPITAL LOBBY), told him about my weekly
column, why I felt it was important to talk about mammography, and explained
that there were no people and no other identifying details in the image, other
than the examiner’s initials, which I would be editing out.
I
e-mailed him the photos: One of the right side view of the machine, one of the
left side view of the plates, a rear image of the imagining screen, and the
photo I took of the digital image of my breast.
I
contacted him as a follow-up before the post went to press, but didn’t hear
back, and since he said he didn’t think it should be a problem, that their main
concern were privacy issues, I went ahead and published the piece.
And
I shared on social media with the teaser Bare it. Share it. Better Boobs.
I
established the hashtag #IBaredIt
and asked everyone to share the post in an effort to help mobilize people
everywhere, to ADD a little something to helping the cause.
AND
YOU DID!
You
shared and retweeted and +1’d.
You
said that this is important to you, too.
Guys
and Gals, I am heartbroken and a bit miffed to inform you that I have had to
remove those pictures. Here is the correspondence I finally received this
evening:
“Apologies for the
delay in responding. Our compliance team struggled with this because although
we understand your desire to use these for the blog, and have no desire to
stand in the way of the spirit of your work on it, the photos’ existence does
violate our policy. It was very kind and considerate of you to reach out for
permission to use them. However, we are unable to grant that permission in
keeping with our policy on photographs taken with what would be considered
unauthorized equipment.”
As
far as I’m concerned, the hospital is acting out of fear and is not taking into
account the extreme measures taken to be discreet and to present these images
in a tasteful manner.
This
very fear is standing in the way of women’s health. It SCREAMS: BE AFRAID.
And
that is the VERY thing I was trying to stop.
So,
here’s what I want us to do.
And
I know we can.
Two
simple things:
1) If you are a company or a doctor or
nurse or medical equipment rep or anyone with access to AUTHORIZED SHARABLE
photos of mammogram equipment, POST THEM. POST
THEM and TAG them with the Bare
It. Share It. Better Boobs. #IBaredIt campaign slogan. Post them in the COMMENTS BELOW or
on THE FIVE FACETS FACEBOOK PAGE
or TWEET THEM or +1
them to all of your people. HECK, DO THEM ALL! (Please be sure to share only the photos you have permission to
share.)
2) Share this post and if you’re so inclined, THIS ORIGINAL ONE, and let women everywhere know that we don’t have to
be afraid! Early detection is the greatest cure we have. LET’S GET BEHIND IT!
SAY ‘NO’ TO FEAR AND ‘YES!’ TO MAMMOGRAPHY.
Thank
you for already saying that you care about this cause, and thank you in advance
for helping me spread the word again.
Yours
in healing, hope, and happiness…
~AE
I think what you tried to do (and did) is wonderful. Mammograms aren't fun, but they aren't scary either! At least, they certainly don't need to be. It's terrible the way everyone / everywhere seems to be worried about legal liability. It prevents "good work" like you were trying to do.
ReplyDeleteThanks, DAW. The world of liability and fear is crazy, and at times, like this one, downright ludicrous. Thanks for sharing and helping spread the word!
DeleteInteresting - but perhaps the denial you received will lead to information being shared even more widely! Great post
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'm hoping, Susan!! Thanks for sharing and commenting and being a part of it!!
Delete