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Unsilenced Movement | VCUG Trauma Support
United States
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2023
The Unsilenced Movement has united thousands of former VCUG patients in advocacy and healing after voiding cystourethrograms, a common pediatric procedure that many children experience as child sexual abuse (CSA).
Today, the test is widely over-performed on up to 1 million children every year, with no mention of the long-term psychological risks.
Join the Unsilenced Movement to advocate for overdue reform in pediatric urology. Because kids deserve better. #MoreThanATest
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Support: www.unsilencedmovement.com 🩺❤️🩹
Today, the test is widely over-performed on up to 1 million children every year, with no mention of the long-term psychological risks.
Join the Unsilenced Movement to advocate for overdue reform in pediatric urology. Because kids deserve better. #MoreThanATest
***
Support: www.unsilencedmovement.com 🩺❤️🩹
More Than A Test (2024) (Award-Winning Short Documentary)
MORE THAN A TEST | THE RISE OF THE UNSILENCED MOVEMENT
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Experience the rise of the Unsilenced Movement in this award-winning short documentary film by Shelby Smith.
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SYNOPSIS:
In this short documentary film, Unsilenced Movement founder Shelby Smith reveals the dark underbelly of voiding cystourethrograms (VCUGs), the "gold standard" diagnostic test to diagnose vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in pediatric patients. The VCUG test is performed on up to 1 million children every year while being falsely promoted as safe, low-risk and minimally invasive, despite decades of critically appraised research establishing this test as the "psychological equivalent" of child sexual abuse.
After recovering her own repressed memories of VCUG trauma at age 27, Smith interviews other former VCUG patients to amplify their voices, raise awareness about the real and lasting harm of VCUGs, and advocate for overdue reform in pediatric urology.
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IMDb page: www.imdb.com/title/tt33525862/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
OFFICIAL SITE | unsilencedmovement.wixsite.com/morethanatest/
RUNTIME: 24:07
RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2024
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/EDITOR:
Shelby Smith
FEATURING:
Abby H.
Abigail S.
Alivia
Ashley G.
Ashley M.
Emilee S.
Mollie B.
SPECIAL THANKS:
Andrea McDonald
Max Bennett
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AWARDS:
Social Impact Award (second-highest honour) | Activists without Borders Film Festival
Best Long Documentary | Alternative Film Festival (AltFF)
Best Documentary Short | IndieX Film Fest
Best Editing | IndieX Film Fest
NOMINATIONS:
Best First-Time Female Director Nominee | IndieX Film Fest
Best Producer Nominee | IndieX Film Fest
Finalist | Independent Shorts Awards
Seasonal Nominee | Toronto Women's International Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS:
2025 Documentaries without Borders International Film Festival
2024 Women's International Film Festival
2024 Touchstone Independent Film Festival
**************
#awardwinningshortfilm #shortdocumentary #womeninfilm #indiefilm #voidingcystourethrogram #VCUG #VCUGtrauma #informedconsent #medicaltrauma #ptsd
**************
Experience the rise of the Unsilenced Movement in this award-winning short documentary film by Shelby Smith.
**************
SYNOPSIS:
In this short documentary film, Unsilenced Movement founder Shelby Smith reveals the dark underbelly of voiding cystourethrograms (VCUGs), the "gold standard" diagnostic test to diagnose vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in pediatric patients. The VCUG test is performed on up to 1 million children every year while being falsely promoted as safe, low-risk and minimally invasive, despite decades of critically appraised research establishing this test as the "psychological equivalent" of child sexual abuse.
After recovering her own repressed memories of VCUG trauma at age 27, Smith interviews other former VCUG patients to amplify their voices, raise awareness about the real and lasting harm of VCUGs, and advocate for overdue reform in pediatric urology.
**************
IMDb page: www.imdb.com/title/tt33525862/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
OFFICIAL SITE | unsilencedmovement.wixsite.com/morethanatest/
RUNTIME: 24:07
RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2024
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/EDITOR:
Shelby Smith
FEATURING:
Abby H.
Abigail S.
Alivia
Ashley G.
Ashley M.
Emilee S.
Mollie B.
SPECIAL THANKS:
Andrea McDonald
Max Bennett
**************
AWARDS:
Social Impact Award (second-highest honour) | Activists without Borders Film Festival
Best Long Documentary | Alternative Film Festival (AltFF)
Best Documentary Short | IndieX Film Fest
Best Editing | IndieX Film Fest
NOMINATIONS:
Best First-Time Female Director Nominee | IndieX Film Fest
Best Producer Nominee | IndieX Film Fest
Finalist | Independent Shorts Awards
Seasonal Nominee | Toronto Women's International Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS:
2025 Documentaries without Borders International Film Festival
2024 Women's International Film Festival
2024 Touchstone Independent Film Festival
**************
#awardwinningshortfilm #shortdocumentary #womeninfilm #indiefilm #voidingcystourethrogram #VCUG #VCUGtrauma #informedconsent #medicaltrauma #ptsd
มุมมอง: 7 552
วีดีโอ
More Than A Test (2024) (Official Trailer)
มุมมอง 1.2K4 หลายเดือนก่อน
In this short documentary film, Unsilenced Movement founder Shelby Smith reveals the dark underbelly of voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), the "gold standard" diagnostic test for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in pediatric urology. The VCUG test is performed on up to 1 million children every year while being falsely promoted as safe, low-risk and minimally invasive, despite decades of critically app...
Alivia, 24: "All these years I’ve been saying, ‘I think I have PTSD’ and no one believed me."
มุมมอง 3526 หลายเดือนก่อน
~ Meet Alivia, a 24-year-old VCUG survivor from North Carolina ~
Abby, 24, courageously speaks out: "My mom pulled me off the table and said, 'This is barbaric.'"
มุมมอง 81610 หลายเดือนก่อน
Abby, 24, courageously speaks out: "My mom pulled me off the table and said, 'This is barbaric.'"
Ashley, 20, was told she'd die without another VCUG: "My mom was blackmailed and lied to"
มุมมอง 2.2Kปีที่แล้ว
Ashley, 20, graciously sat down with Unsilenced founder Shelby Smith to share her powerful story for the first time. Her revealing testament is bound to change minds about the so-called “painless” voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) test. [00:30] For Ashley, the effects have been detrimental and lifelong, even before finding out about her test in October 2022. Like many others, Ashley developed dis...
We Are UNSILENCED.
มุมมอง 204ปีที่แล้ว
Join the Unsilenced Movement. Visit www.unsilencedmovement.com to learn more about voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) trauma, the "gold standard" to diagnose VUR in kids that produces the same psychological effects as a violent rape. There are alternatives. They are safer. They are more accurate. They are even MORE AFFORDABLE for U.S. families. It's time to stand up for children around the world. ...
Ashley, 20, shares her truth: "The effects of [VCUG] include becoming actively suicidal"
มุมมอง 395ปีที่แล้ว
Ashley, 20, shares her truth: "The effects of [VCUG] include becoming actively suicidal"
Welcome to Unsilenced Bloopers ~ feat. Ashley G.
มุมมอง 122ปีที่แล้ว
Welcome to Unsilenced Bloopers ~ feat. Ashley G.
Mollie, 22, shares VCUG experience: "I definitely have vaginismus. I KNOW it's because of this test"
มุมมอง 556ปีที่แล้ว
Mollie, 22, shares VCUG experience: "I definitely have vaginismus. I KNOW it's because of this test"
Abby shares how her VCUGs impacted her: "I can't even get close to being in a romantic relationship"
มุมมอง 419ปีที่แล้ว
Abby shares how her VCUGs impacted her: "I can't even get close to being in a romantic relationship"
Emilee, 27, shares her VCUG story: "There wasn't a whole lot of empathy from anyone in the room"
มุมมอง 763ปีที่แล้ว
Emilee, 27, shares her VCUG story: "There wasn't a whole lot of empathy from anyone in the room"
The Safer, Cheaper, BETTER Alternative to VCUG (That Hospitals Don't Offer)
มุมมอง 209ปีที่แล้ว
The Safer, Cheaper, BETTER Alternative to VCUG (That Hospitals Don't Offer)
Unsilenced Mission | Shelby Smith, Founder & CEO
มุมมอง 239ปีที่แล้ว
Unsilenced Mission | Shelby Smith, Founder & CEO
Will Your Child Remember Their VCUG? | Key Concepts from "The Body Keeps the Score"
มุมมอง 366ปีที่แล้ว
Will Your Child Remember Their VCUG? | Key Concepts from "The Body Keeps the Score"
I have 2 daughters and I’ve never heard of this but omg it sounds horrific kinda like gets getting an iud smh wtaf
Wow.... I'd never heard of this before! It's terrible!! Why are they still doing this? It's obvious this needs to stop 😡
Thank you for sharing this. It was done to me 40 years ago, and has poisoned many areas of my life. I still hate the medical profession.
Beautiful 😊😊
The outright lies spread by the hospitals and doctors about this barbaric test make me absolutely sick. I had this test done to me when I was 6 years old, nearly 40 years ago, and it's wrecked a lot of areas of my life. It's no more safe than clitoridectomies or lobotomies, and it has just as profound an effect on your emotional life as both of those procedures.
I had this done to me when I was 6. It's left me messed up, even 40+ years later. It was my first sexual experience, and I was so young I didn't even know what sex was!
This is a huge story waiting to be broken by the media. I say this as a former journalist living in a different part of the world. This is abuse of children on an industrial scale.
I would demand sedation!! Why would they not sedate? Male Dr’s? I refuse to see any male Drs, even my dentist is female..
I was 10 years old. I was screaming looked at my mom and begged. She told them to stop, they didn't. They finally did when my mom threatened to sue them. I'm thankful for that moment every day
I had no idea I still have trauma related to this until I struggled through watching it. I had multiple VCUG procedures as a child. Definitely damaged my relationship with my mother and is likely the reason I have high anxiety going to the doctor.
My daughter had repeated UTIs before age 5. Around 2012, I was told she needed a test to check for “kidney reflux” and the procedure was described, which I believe was a VCUG. I asked if she would be sedated and was told she would not. I absolutely refused to allow the test. After seeing this, I am so grateful for refusing-I am not even sure where I found the courage to be so adamantly against it-I just was. I am so sorry for every child who has experienced this. Thank you for this powerful documentary.
just got diagnosed with PTSD earlier this year, I still have nightmares. I tried to kick, push, bite, at one point I thought I won. they stopped. but only stopped to get more nurses to hold me down.
Children experience being pinned down and subjected to the forcible penetration of their intimate body parts as any human being would. As sexual assault. This is outrageous. Children need protection from any, and every, experience that would be considered a sexual violation if commited on an adult.
Thank you to everyone involved in lifting the lid on the life-altering harm and severe sexual trauma of this violating and terrorising procedure.
Thank you for exposing this medical horror. It is like the movie Sybil. The medical profession is being exposed for its utter failure to abide by its ethical and moral duty to keep vulnerable children safe from sexual harm. As human beings we share in the duty to protect our children. For professionals who work in radiology or pediatric urology, and for all those in the healthcare sector who are aware of this severely traumatising procedure, this is abuse of vulnerable children happening in plain sight. Known sexual harm. Inflicted on vulnerable children. In plain sight.
Life-altering sexual harm knowingly being inflicted on vulnerable defenceless children - this truth, FOR DECADES, brushed aside and buried by a profession which pledges to do no harm.
Yes the betrayal is so tragic, the relational damage on top of the the other impacts of childhood sexual abuse. What is the child to make of knowing the parent accepted for them the terror, pain, violation and severe sexual trauma of this procedure? 😭😭😭 It can profoundly damage the attachment. So unforgiveable that parents are kept in the dark, unaware that this the traumatic equivalent of "violent rape" when they are pushed to consent to this. Thank you for speaking out.
Yes it absolutely is barbaric. It is medical sexual assault.
Thank you for sharing this. Parents would just trust the "experts", but after this, we know.
Goodness, my daughter seemed traumatized just by having to have ointment put on irritation from too many bubble baths. I can only imagine what kind of horror this would be to a child. I had to have a catheter left in for a kindey stone once, and that made me feel weird and icky. Little children don't understand why these things are being done, even if you tell them. 🥺 What was described is almost exactly like some of the abuse done to the little girl Sybil in the story "Sybil".
I didn't have a vcug but a catheter was inserted to have a urethra widening procedure. I struggled and was held down by several nurses, the last thing I remember before I went blank was my mom leaving the room. I saw her face through the glass in the door as she shut the door behind her. I gave up struggling and my memory blacked out what happened next
I was molested by a neighbour for a while when I was about 5-6. I used to get what I know now was terrible Cystitis. I used to get it frequently and I remember the awful pain and peeing just drops of blood. I used to get in trouble by my teacher for needing to go to the toilet, I used to sit there and cry with pain. Doctor just prescribed a horrible clear medicine called Mist Pot Cit and little square sulphur tablets. I had so many attacks of cystitis but no one ever thought to examine me or ask me any questions. My Mother did not care, I felt I was more of an annoyance. I am a Mandated Reporter, and every time a little girl came in with Cystitis I wanted to report it. I did a few times.
I had this done post C-section where my bladder had been damaged. It was confusing and painful for me and I was an adult and compliant…I was ridiculed during the test for any reaction I made. It was extremely painful. Why they are doing this to little children is beyond me. I was told I needed another and I refused, so in stead I got a barium and contrast ct scan. There are other options.
I had mine when I was aged 4 years old. It wasn’t a tiny rubber tube but a rigid catheter. The preparation before and the procedure left me traumatised and bed wetting with torture dreams for years.
That was 1969 and my mum was not allowed in with me.
@@SteveGuthrie-xp1mb I’m so sorry. I relate to your story. This was my same experience at age 2, 1997. The bedwetting, the torturous nightmares for decades. No one even put the pieces together, just kept taking me back to the pediatrician, which retraumatized me. We deserved better. There is no excuse to still be performing this today without disclosing all the risks. We won’t be silenced this time. ❤️🩹
Speechless. Thank you for your courage in sharing your pain for awareness. 💔 I had mild VUR as a young child but am so fortunate to have not ever had this test.
This is absolutely horrible. We need to find a different way. I understand that the test can be important, and ultimately save lives, but there has to be another way. However, this way to perform the test is probably the cheapest for the insurance companies. There’s a lot wrong with the medical industry, and it’s only getting worse with time as humans become the product. Medical tyranny is a thing. Getting government out of healthcare is the first step to tackling these problems.
Oh my god, what is wrong with these doctors? Do they think that because what they're doing technically isn't r@pe, that it won't... effect the child, psychologically, the same way? I don't understand the disconnect here. This is the same as CSA. I'm infuriated. I never had a VCUG, but I do have a great deal of medical trauma. Honestly, this did help validate alot of my medical traumas, knowing that a "normal" procedure would have the same psychological impact as a violent r@pe. I hope that doctors who are aware of the psychological effects and keep performing this procedure lose their license and be prosecuted. This is evil.
I don't care that they claim it isn't r$pe. Obviously r$pists will claim it isn't r$pe!
I can't even watch this. that is why it is so important.
Xray tech here! I had to do the X-rays (fluoroscopy) for this exam. I feel sick to my stomach to even think about this again. I went to school for my X-ray liscence from 2006-2008. It was a huge painful procedure to watch for reflux into the ureters and kidneys. I felt so badly for the kids! Of course they would cry! We needed to sedate them. I don't care what the dr's say. I know a lot about kidney disease as Lateran in my life I got kidney disease. I also had a lot of UTI's as a kid, probably due to being neglected and abused. I cant watch the video, because I still have flashbacks. All the dr's and nurses acted like it was normal. If there is a valve problem, there is usually a stent placed in the ureter. For those who don't know what a vcug feels like, imagine having your bladder filled up so much with saline that your going to burst, and its so painful, but you cant pee it out. Its panic inducinceing! Hearing these kids now, validates that all of this could have been avoided. Ind everyone sees your private parts. and holds you down, while your getting filled with saline. And It is so hard for the X-ray tech to get the blowback flash going up your ureters, IF you have a problem. It's like half a second to get that image. So many times I wanted to yell stop!
They also claim that a hysteroscopy of where they do a biopsy of your womb cells doesn't hurt either, and that's a LIE!! They basically insert a metal hollow tube in you PAST the CERVIX and INTO YOUR UTERUS. Then they pass another tool with a SCALPEL on the end of it and PUSH IT ALL UP AND AROUND INSIDE YOU WITH NO ANESTHETIC GIVEN. They do it to search for cancer, but I ended up just signing the "consent form" WITHOUT being told how BAD the PAIN WOULD BE. And this was at 40 years old!! 😢😢😢😢
Thank you Shelby. I have been trying to Comment, but somehow my post is not coming through. For now - much appreciation for what you are doing. Please find a way to get this info more widely disseminated. Will follow-up later, with a few suggestions. Best regards.
I personally had this procedure done when I was about 19 with my mom with me. The staff was very caring & helped me relax with my mom. I forgot what it was called until now. It didn’t really help diagnose my bladder issues at the time. It was over a decade ago and my bladder issues come and go rarely on occasions with stress but are fine now. I couldn’t imagine a child going through that procedure. I’m lucky to not have had a negative experience during my procedure even though I grasp more of the complexity of the procedure years later.
I had my son have one of these as a toddler i feel so bad now iim not sure how it hasx aiffected
This was very informative information, and it made me realize that every child affected by this unnecessary procedure deserves better, I see these medical staff as paid child predators wearing a white coat and mask, they are no different than any registered offender out there, they can be jailed as well.
Thank you so much for getting the word out there!
Hi! I was inspired by your shorts, would it be all right if i wrote a book detailing my exact experiences with it and crediting your videos as being the catalyst for my final pursuit in understanding that trauma?
My own trauma regarding VCUG treatment outside of the movement you have started
Because watching this videos was the final click of 1 + 1 for me and i hope if i share what happened and why, it'll make people less scared of their own bodily functions that it starts shutting down their body when they feel stressed
I plan to share your teasers with my therapists/researchers at the hospital so thata why i wanted to know lol
Agreed i think it should be illegal for regular catheterization too not just the vcug part. I know i felt like an svu vic after i had mine so basically i say ive been raped twice by medical ppl
Thats horrible to hear, i hppe youre able to take care of your body now and meet your ohysical needs without the stress and fear from this procedure keeping you from learning how to manage pain because man ... this test was horrifying
Mine wasnt the vcug mine was just the straight normal and i was 3. I think it should be made into a law where if children have to absolutley have to have this done that it is required they be sedated for it test or straight.
Great message there, hopefully we can put an end to this, kids deserve better.
Thank you so much, i really appreciate seeing someone say that as someone who underwent this twice
@@hazelrhone7260 You absolutely deserved better. Children experience being pinned down and subjected to he forcible penetration of their intimate body parts as any human being would, as sexual assault. It is unconscionable.
Mine wasnt the vcug just straight catheterization but i still see it as if i was raped.
Will be watching on 11/1/2024, keep up the awesome work.
All power to those speaking out about the harms of this violating and severely traumatising test.
Thank you for bringing this to public awareness. Children deserve to be protected from sexual trauma!
This is such an important documentary that every parent needs to see. The medical community must be held to account for the ethical and moral failure to protect children from the known harm and severe sexual and medical trauma of this barbaric test.
Thank you. I underwent multiple VCUG procedures from age 18mos to 6 years of age during the 1960s.
Not knowing what it was called but the absolute fear and trauma of it, I had to get a test done and thought it was a vcug I had so much anxiety, I never want it again
Williams Helen Thompson Susan Taylor Deborah
Looking forward to the full video this fall. Thanks for the work and advocacy ❤
Davis Jose Williams Paul Walker Susan
Such brave young women! To have the courage to speak up about the gruesome crime that was done to you, thank you for raising awareness. Hopefully we can end the gruesome treatment that children receive in paediatric medicine, these degrading medical procedures done in the intime zones of children should be criminalised!
Taylor Susan Jackson Michelle Wilson William
🙏🏽