Medical council reviewing practices after women say tampons were banned in exams
The Medical Council of Canada says it’s reviewing its practices after being criticized online for prohibiting women from bringing tampons or menstrual pads into exam rooms while writing multi-hour tests.
Dr. Michelle Cohen, advocacy chairwoman with Canadian Women in Medicine, said it’s “sexist and unfair” to confiscate feminine hygiene products from exam takers, or to require them to ask exam supervisors for access to them in the middle of a test.
“It’s just a completely disgusting overreach and outrageously invasive,” Cohen said in an interview from Brighton, Ont., where she works as a family doctor.
Cohen launched a petition calling for change, saying that making menstrual products available in washrooms doesn’t adequately solve the problem because exam writers are entitled to use the product of their choice.