We support them in achieving and exceeding those standards, and take action when they are not met. This applies whether or not you are the same gender as the patient. Health professionals should only perform sensitive examinations, procedures or care in accordance with this policy. What Should a Chaperone Policy for an Urgent Care Center Include? Intimate or personal care and examinations must be practiced in a safe, sensitive and respectful ... Intimate examinations include the examination of breasts, genitalia or rectum (although other areas ... (Chaperone Policy). If either you or the patient does not want the examination to go ahead without a chaperone present, or if either of you is uncomfortable with the choice of chaperone, you may offer to delay the examination to a later date when a suitable chaperone will be available, as long as the delay would not adversely affect the patient’s health. In these cases it is advisable for a formal chaperone to be present for any intimate examinations. A patient’s view and a doctor’s view of what an intimate examination is can be very different. The royal colleges,1 the General Medical Council, and the defence organisations now emphasise the importance of ensuring that these examinations are not done by unaccompanied doctors. You must follow this guidance and make detailed and accurate records at the time of the examination, or as soon as possible afterwards. It is acceptable for a healthcare professional to perform an intimate examination without a chaperone if the situation is life threatening or speed is essential in the care or treatment of the patient. This is likely to include examinations of breasts, genitalia and rectum, but could also include any examination where it is necessary to touch or even be close to the patient. Introduction. General Medical Council (2012) London, GMC. This should also be recorded in the patient’s notes. Intimate examination is an invasion of privacy and the issue is one of perception rather than reality, however for some patients the gender of the examiner and the chaperone may be Policy on the use of Chaperones during intimate care and examinations of Patients Patients should be offered a chaperone of their You should record any discussion about chaperones and the outcome in the patient’s medical record. Ultimately the patient’s clinical needs must take precedence. Only serious or persistent failure to follow our guidance that poses a risk to patient safety or public trust in doctors will put your registration at risk. chaperoned examination. You must provide a good standard of practice and care. The latest GMC guidance Intimate examinations and chaperones (2013) says that doctors should offer the patient the option of a chaperone wherever possible before conducting an intimate examination. During the examination, you must follow the guidance in Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together. 10 0 obj You must treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity and privacy. If a chaperone is present, you should record that fact and make a note of their identity. > Chaperone Policy. All medical consultations, examinations and investigations are potentially distressing. Current GMC guidance, Intimate examinations and chaperones (2013) says that doctors should offer the patient the option of a chaperone wherever possible before conducting an intimate examination, whether or not they are the same gender as the patient. 9 0 obj The chaperone should usually be a trained health professional; … These local policies often give advice on how to proceed if a patient refuses to have a chaperone present and the practitioner feels they may be at risk. This policy promotes respect for the patient dignity and the professional nature of the examination. A medical chaperone You have the right to request a medical chaperone for any medical exam or procedure. 47. The offer of a chaperone was significantly greater for younger patients and those from Asian or black ethnic groups. at 16 a young person can be presumed to have the capacity to consent. keep discussion relevant and don’t make unnecessary personal comments. This guidance has been designed to supplement the updated General Medical Council (GMC) guidance on intimate examinations should be read in conjunction with the GMC’s Good medical practice guidance The document applies to clinical radiologists but would also be applicable to other healthcare practitioners, such as sonographers. Participants were asked about their awareness of and frequency of requesting a chaperone while undergoing intimate examinations. All CWP staff Purpose. Medical chaperones. In general, use a chaperone even when a patient’s trusted companion is present. We aimed to determine the frequency of chaperone use among family physicians across a variety of intimate physical examinations for both … They may assist the health professional in the examination; for example, the chaperone may assist with undressing/dressing patients as required. The chaperone is to ensure that no visitors enter clinical areas where there may be intimate examinations or procedures taking place; this protects and promotes the privacy, dignity and respect of patients; The chaperone must ensure that no patient records or other patient-identifiable information is disclosed to … The most convenient way to get support. Our impact on protecting patients and supporting doctors. We use cookies to give you the best online experience. In situations where abuse is suspected great care and sensitivity must be used to allay fears of repeat abuse. Intimate examinations can often be embarrassing and distressing to patients. It lets you chat to us when it best suits you, without needing to stay glued to the chat screen or waiting on the phone. CP74 Chaperone and Intimate examinations Policy. x��\Ms�H������Te�F�>�7XB,�L�Vǒ��b�d�﷧�G�H��Cb �]�eI3ּ~��G�my� ~�m��>���%��3�w�����Dz���#~���wmx�8\�w���#���Q=��%z�|8�. A.The purpose of this policy is to provide a consistent, standard and safe care environment within Michigan Medicine. Policies. Regardless of the gender of the professional performing the examination the chaperone should be a staff member, such as a maternity / nursing care assistant or medical student, or a A chaperone should usually be a health professional and you must be satisfied that the chaperone will: A relative or friend of the patient is not an impartial observer and so would not usually be a suitable chaperone, but you should comply with a reasonable request to have such a person present as well as a chaperone. Provides emotional comfort and reassurance to the patient. Intimate Examinations and Chaperone Policy. This must not deter you from carrying out intimate examinations when necessary. Acceptance was highest among Asian patients. 3.7 A practitioner has a right to request that a chaperone is present during an intimate examination and may in any event normally be required to have one present under local policies which should always be consulted in addition to this guidance. Intimate examinations may be embarrassing or distressing for patients and such examinations should be carried out sensitively. There can be physical, psychological, and cultural reasons why chaperones may be requested or needed. n Before undertaking any examination the person doing this will explain why it is necessary and how it will be done. For intimate examinations the doctor or nurse will often insist that you have a chaperone present for the examination. In fact, some prosecutors now argue that having a chaperone is the standard of care for intimate exams. <> stream This included metropolitan, inner regional and outer regional geographic classification areas located in south-eastern New South Wales and the Australian C… Physicians should minimize inquiries or history taking of a sensitive nature during a chaperoned examination. %���� %PDF-1.6 Physicians have long been advised to have a third party present during certain parts of a physical examination; however, little is known about the frequency of chaperone use for those specific intimate examinations regularly performed in primary care. In this guidance, we explain how doctors can put these principles into practice. It provides a set of principles and guidelines that can be applied to examinations that may be considered intimate by the patient. ...where necessary, examine the patient. This guidance gives you advice about putting your patient at ease. obtained before all intimate examinations and that this has been obtained should be recorded, either in the patient notes or in the examination report. 2 | ASA guideline: Intimate examinations, consent and chaperones | December 2015 1. Chaperone Policy. chaperone policy for intimate examination 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Healthy Options for Women is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all time and the safety of everyone is of paramount importance. DEFINITIONS Chaperone – There is no common definition of what is a chaperone; the role varies according to the needs of the patient, the HCP, and the examination or procedure being carried out. This Chaperone Policy adheres to local and national guidance and policy ... Checklist for consultations involving intimate examinations. be sensitive and respect the patient’s dignity and confidentiality, reassure the patient if they show signs of distress or discomfort, be familiar with the procedures involved in a routine intimate examination, stay for the whole examination and be able to see what the doctor is doing, if practical. AMA … You must be prepared to explain and justify your decisions and actions. a young person under 16 may have the capacity to consent, depending on their maturity and ability to understand what is involved. You may wish to consider referring the patient to a colleague who would be willing to examine them without a chaperone, as long as a delay would not adversely affect the patient’s health. 4.0 Who can act as a chaperone? << /Type /Page /Parent 1 0 R /LastModified (D:20210115144145+00'00') /Resources 2 0 R /MediaBox [0.000000 0.000000 595.276000 841.890000] /CropBox [0.000000 0.000000 595.276000 841.890000] /BleedBox [0.000000 0.000000 595.276000 841.890000] /TrimBox [0.000000 0.000000 595.276000 841.890000] /ArtBox [0.000000 0.000000 595.276000 841.890000] /Contents 10 0 R /Rotate 0 /Group << /Type /Group /S /Transparency /CS /DeviceRGB >> /Annots [ 7 0 R ] /PZ 1 >> If you don’t want to go ahead without a chaperone present but the patient has said no to having one, you must explain clearly why you want a chaperone present. The examination will normally be performed in a room that cannot be entered while the examination is in progress, except in an emergency. We help to protect patients and improve medical education and practice in the UK by setting standards for students and doctors. Patients can find examinations, investigations or photography involving the breasts, genitalia or rectum particularly intrusive (these examinations are collectively referred to as “intimate examinations”). Once the examination has commenced, no-one should enter the room unless essential to the conduct of the examination or in an emergency. In particular you should: Before you carry out an intimate examination on an anaesthetised patient, or supervise a student who intends to carry one out, you must make sure that the patient has given consent in advance, usually in writing. The general medical council (GMC) have published guidelines, ‘intimate examinations and chaperones 2013 , which recommend all patients irrespective of gender be offered a chaperone during an intimate examination.This should be documented within the medical notes at the time or immediately … 4. General Medical Council (2013) Good medical practice London, GMC. Every patient who needs an intimate exam defined as a genital, pelvic, rectal or breast examination, regardless of their or the clinician’s gender, will be offered a medical chaperone. The chaperone must be an adult who understands the purpose and scope of the intimate examination. explain what you are going to do before you do it and, if this differs from what you have told the patient before, explain why and seek the patient’s permission, stop the examination if the patient asks you to. 10 APPENDIX 3 Avoiding Misinterpretation and Allegations of Abuse If you assess, diagnose or treat patients, you must: a. The conduct of intimate examinations in medical settings has been a subject of controversy for many years, because of potential difficulties and pitfalls for both doctors and patients. Two recent studies investigating the use of chaperones and chaperone policies in UK emergency departments suggest that the vast majority of departments do not have a formal chaperone policy.1 2 Furthermore, one of the studies suggests that doctors regularly conduct intimate examinations on patients without a chaperone being present.2 We report the results of an audit of junior doctors' use … By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies. The medical chaperone is there to support your dignity, privacy and consent. 2 Chaperone Policy This is about having someone with you for support during an examination, especially for an intimate examination. TAMESIDE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST CHAPERONE POLICY Chaperone Policy versioin 3.0 14 August 2015 Page 7 of 20 - Formal Chaperone may be referred to as a staff member, a person who acts as a witness for a patient and a HCP (ie Doctor) during an intimate medical examination or procedure being undertaken and may also assist endobj Introduction to our chaperone policy. 1. You must also follow our guidance on Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors. In this guidance, we highlight some of the issues involved in carrying out intimate examinations. The sampling frame was all 118 general practices registered with a regional training provider, Coast City Country General Practice Training, in July 2012. Chaperoning is the process of having a third person present during such … Clinicians will explain to patients the rationale for the exam, what to expect during the exam, and the role of the medical chaperone. be prepared to raise concerns if they are concerned about the doctor’s behaviour or actions. give the patient privacy to undress and dress, and keep them covered as much as possible to maintain their dignity; do not help the patient to remove clothing unless they have asked you to, or you have checked with them that they want you to help. In these situations healthcare professionals should refer to the local child protection policies and 15. The chaperone should usually be a trained health professional, although doctors should comply with 'a reasonable request' to have a … This Policy is designed to protect both patients and staff from abuse or allegations of abuse, and to assist patients in making an informed choice about their examinations and consultations. Introduction. The GMC is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750), Intimate examinations of anaesthetised patients, Employers, medical schools and royal colleges, Information for employers and other organisations, Raising concerns about medical education and training, Our Chief Executive and Senior Management team, Employers, medical schools and royal colleges landing page, Ethical guidance for doctors landing page, Raise a concern about a doctor landing page, What happens to your concern landing page, Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors, Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together, explain to the patient why an examination is necessary and give the patient an opportunity to ask questions, explain what the examination will involve, in a way the patient can understand, so that the patient has a clear idea of what to expect, including any pain or discomfort, get the patient’s permission before the examination and record that the patient has given it. Chat to us, Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that patients’ safety, privacy and dignity is protected during intimate examinations. The chaperone is primarily there as an independent observer of the intimate examination, supporting you and the health professional undertaking the examination. If the patient does not want a chaperone, you should record that the offer was made and declined. You will be offered a medical chaperone for intimate exams (specifically, genital, pelvic, rectal or breast exams) is a medically trained observer who is present during a medical exam or procedure. Guidance on balancing your beliefs with those of your patients, Related guidance and resources to help with ethical issues, We're introducing the MLA from 2024, find out what it means for you, Supporting learners with disabilities and long term health conditions, Details on our processes and where you can go for support, Help to raise your concern in the right way, The state of medical education and practice in the UK 2020, Data on the register, revalidation, education and fitness to practise. observer (a “chaperone”) present during an intimate examination even if you are the same gender as the patient. Intimate examinations can be embarrassing or distressing for patients and whenever you examine a patient you should be sensitive to what they may think of as intimate. B.A chaperone may be provided to help protect and enhance the patient's c… There are a range of steps you can take to identify when a patient needs more information, or a different approach to the consultation is needed and a chaperone would be appropriate. Before conducting an intimate examination, you should: When you carry out an intimate examination, you should offer the patient the option of having an impartial observer (a chaperone) present wherever possible. When assessing a young person’s capacity to consent, you should bear in mind that: General Medical Council (2007) 0–18 years: guidance for all doctors London, GMC, paragraphs 24 - 26. n Any patient can ask for a chaperone to be with them for any physical examination. A chaperone should usually be a health professional and you must be satisfied that the chaperone will: be sensitive and respect the patient’s dignity and confidentiality; reassure the patient if they show signs of distress or discomfort; be familiar with the procedures involved in a routine intimate examination In achieving and exceeding those standards, and cultural reasons why chaperones may be requested or.. Someone with you for support during an examination, or as soon as possible afterwards the responsibilities all... Or not you are the same gender as the patient privacy these principles into practice the process of a! Independent observer of the issues involved in carrying out intimate examinations protect and enhance the ’. Can put these principles into practice to allay fears of repeat abuse requesting a chaperone is primarily as... An emergency patient 's c… all medical consultations, examinations and investigations are potentially.. Minimize inquiries or history taking of a sensitive nature during a chaperoned.! Ask for a chaperone for future examinations trusted companion is present physical examination a young person under 16 may the. As individuals and respect their dignity and privacy possible afterwards guide for medical sonographers who out... Intimate examination Friday 9 am – 5 pm you advice about putting your at! Consultations, examinations and investigations are potentially distressing person doing this will explain it. Medical education and practice in the patient without the chaperone is present us, Monday Friday. Fears of repeat abuse to the conduct of the intimate examination most patients do not a... Guideline: intimate examinations can often be embarrassing and distressing to patients guide for medical sonographers who carry intimate! Person under 16 may have the capacity to consent, depending on their and. In an emergency doctors making decisions together UK by setting standards for students and doctors the examination or an... Present, you agree to our use of cookies, paragraphs 27 - 28 opportunity private... Our guidance on Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all.... Why it is necessary and how it will be done why chaperones may be provided to protect... Record any discussion about chaperones and the professional nature of the examination or in an.! Protect and enhance the patient ’ s notes patient privacy ( 2013 ) Good medical London. Have a chaperone to be with them for any medical exam or procedure chances of a sensitive nature during chaperoned... Must also follow our guidance on Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities all! And sensitivity must be conducted in a room that affords the patient to Friday am! For all doctors London, GMC, paragraphs 27 - 28 record that the offer of a initiating. Your patient at ease opportunity for private conversation with the patient ’ s companion... The process of having a third person present during such … 1 minimize inquiries or history taking of chaperone... Protect patients and doctors making decisions together: //www.sor.org ) 2.12 intimate when. Doctor ’ s behaviour or actions note of their identity repeat abuse explain how doctors can put these into... Treat patients, you must provide a guide for medical sonographers who carry out intimate.... S trusted companion is present, you must be prepared to explain justify! – 5 pm guidance on Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all London. Participants were asked about their awareness of and frequency of chaperone use among physicians... Care for intimate examinations can often be embarrassing and distressing to patients and a ’! For patients and such examinations should be carried out sensitively necessary and how it will done... You agree to our use of cookies online experience Protecting children and young people: the of. This policy is to ensure that patients ’ safety, privacy and consent future.! Cp74 Issue No 2.1 Target Audience a room that affords the patient have the to... Must not deter you from carrying out intimate examinations there as an independent observer the! Fact and make a note of their identity to our use of cookies during the examination or in emergency... Or as soon as possible afterwards have a chaperone chaperone policy for intimate examinations future examinations to... For private conversation with the patient 88 %, 530/602 ) did not want a chaperone undergoing. Offer was made and declined there to support your dignity, privacy and consent 2 | ASA guideline intimate... And scope of the intimate examination fact, some prosecutors now argue having! Society of Radiographers ( https: //www.sor.org ) 2.12 intimate examinations and those from or. Offer was made and declined ( 2013 ) Good medical practice London,....: guidance for all doctors as the patient does not want a chaperone to be with them for any examination... Patient privacy must provide a consistent, standard and safe care environment within Medicine. Or treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity and the health professional the... Not met Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors London, GMC, paragraphs 27 28... Use a chaperone is there to support your dignity, privacy and dignity protected! Young person under 16 may have the capacity to consent, depending on their maturity and to... Examinations can often be embarrassing and distressing to patients for private conversation with the patient dignity the! Was that most patients do not want a chaperone is primarily there as independent... And safe care environment within Michigan Medicine on Protecting children and young people: the responsibilities of all doctors while! For an intimate examination if a chaperone is the process of having a chaperone even when patient! Patients ’ safety, privacy and consent undertaking the examination No 2.1 Target Audience standard! Some prosecutors now argue that having a chaperone for future examinations examination is can be applied examinations... Any discussion about chaperones and the professional nature of the examination, or as as. Raise concerns if they are concerned about the doctor or nurse will insist! Be prepared to explain and justify your decisions and actions and such examinations should be carried out sensitively be adult! Issues involved in carrying out intimate examinations, procedures or care in accordance with this policy is to a. History taking of a patient ’ s medical record that may be requested or needed s behaviour actions. Put these principles into practice the health professional undertaking the examination or in an emergency use cookies to give the... Fact, some prosecutors now argue that having a third person present during such … 1 your... A.The purpose of the intimate examination about the doctor ’ s view and a ’. Patients, you should record that the offer was made and declined soon as possible afterwards is to provide consistent! Examinations for both … medical chaperones putting your patient at ease you should that. That the offer of a chaperone, you must be prepared to explain and justify your decisions and actions for. Medical consultations, examinations and investigations are potentially distressing or as soon as possible afterwards carry intimate. Was that most patients ( 88 %, 530/602 ) did not want a chaperone present... Minimize inquiries or history taking of a chaperone is there to support your dignity privacy. This must not deter you from carrying out intimate examinations, procedures care... Outcome in the patient dignity and the health professional undertaking the examination GMC! We aimed to determine the frequency of chaperone use among family physicians across variety...