To make a difference:
https://www.change.org/m/end-forced-pelvic-exams compiles state efforts to pass laws against non consensual pelvic exams. Most recently, a petition with 110,354 supporters succeeded in creating a law in Connecticut.
Across U.S. medical institutions, many medical students can access patients who are under anesthesia for treatment, and perform practice invasive exams without their explicit consent. This practice leaves patients feeling violated and hesitant to seek treatment. To repair trust between patients and their care providers, 14 states have established protective laws. However, the scope of these laws vary extremely: some protect only female patients, others require only vague, easily-missed warnings in paperwork.
As this issue has garnered public outrage in recent years, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun requiring consent for pelvic, breast, and other sensitive examinations, in order for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. An April report by the CMS’s Directors, Quality, Safety & Oversight Group and Survey & Operations Group revised informed consent guidelines, adding these requirements for informed consent forms:
They leave any further requirements for state laws to decide, but added recommendations:
While this is a monumental advancement, it is important to note that many of the details are still left to state legislation, such as the definition of an “invasive procedure” and required documentation of the procedures. California lacks laws defining consent form requirements; CA Bus & Prof Code § 2281 (2023) only disallows non consensual pelvic exams, without discussion of other invasive practices or paperwork. You can write to local representatives to express concerns about these shortcomings. Further, as mentioned earlier, many states remain without a state-level law protecting patient consent rights. It is always a good idea to have multiple levels of protection, if federal legislation changes in the future.
To make a difference:
https://www.change.org/m/end-forced-pelvic-exams compiles state efforts to pass laws against non consensual pelvic exams. Most recently, a petition with 110,354 supporters succeeded in creating a law in Connecticut.
Read through the CMS report: