They say a seriously ill patient doesn't feel shameful. I don't know... I was badly ill but felt awfully shameful because it was a man paramedic who dealt with me. Later, when I worked at the hospital and there was no woman paramedic when a woman was admitted during my shift I dealt with her myself. Many laughed at me and the nurses were indignant, "You derogate from dignity!.." I don't know if one could derogate from dignity sparing the dignity of a hapless person?