Improving sensitivity to patients from other cultures.

www.aafp.org/afp Volume 82, Number 1 ◆ July 1, 2010 Case Scenario A 41-year-old Indian woman recently presented to me, a male physician. She reported feeling weak during the past two months. She said she wakes up tired and becomes more tired as the day passes. She sleeps lightly and sometimes wakes up early. Occasionally, she has dull, aching pain in her lower back. During the review of systems, she denied any nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, change in appetite, cough, abdominal pain, or headache. However, when I asked about any genitourinary problems, she looked down and replied softly that she had been having a white vaginal discharge for the past three months. She seemed embarrassed, and asked to see a female physician. I was surprised that I had made her feel uncomfortable. How should I have handled this situation?