[ghshephard]

As long as the doctor (A) did not have any cuts on his hand and (B) washed it immediately after checking the skin temperature, and (C) the individual was not symptomatic (No Diarrhea, No vomiting) the risk is pretty minimal. Probably more risk from being coughed on.

(Note - doctors should be washing hands continuously regardless - when I went in for a checkup in Kaiser/Mountain View a few years ago, Doctor washed his hands upon coming in the room, washed his hands after checking my heartbeat with a stethoscope, and then washed them a third time before leaving the room. This was to check someone who had no symptoms whatsoever. I asked him about it, and it was Kaiser policy - he said he washed his hands about 20 times an hour. )

[maxerickson]

So go ask that doctor how he would interact with you if he believed there was a chance that you had an infectious disease with a high mortality rate. Or if he was in a room that didn't even have a sink.