I should keep my big mouth shut, but here goes. I have worked in the hospital environment for quite a few years after I retired from my original occupation. I have latterly seen and touched hundreds of women below the panty line. Anyone in nursing does the same. I have not only worked on women, but men as well. To be honest while you are working you have to remind yourself if you are working on a man or women. You just do not notice it anymore. Sometimes female patients would say half jokingly that other male nurses just wanted to see them naked. If they knew how ridicules that statement was they would not say it. I would have been very happy to never see one more naked woman in the hospital.
Any surgery would involve many medical personnel, male and female in the operating room. During the surgery her panties were probably removed completely. Especially if she had general anesthesia she was more than likely cauterized.
The doctor here was not very smart to put a tattoo on any patient considering peoples attitude about suing for anything these days. A complaint letter to the local state medical oversight authority would have been sufficient. If this is a true event, there must be a lot more we do not know about the situation.
I will shut up now and go back to my old geezer activities working on web pages.