Resources
Non-consensual pelvic exams performed on anesthetized patients have been a topic of concern in the medical community for several years. These exams, which involve the insertion of fingers or instruments into a patient’s vagina without their explicit consent, have been reported in various medical settings. In an effort to shed light on this practice, several articles have been written discussing the issue and its impact on patients. These articles provide valuable insight into the prevalence of non-consensual pelvic exams and highlight the need for informed consent in all medical procedures.
Hospitals Must Get Written Patient Consent for Pelvic Exams, H.H.S. Says
nytimes.com
Letter to the nation’s teaching hospitals and medical schools
hhs.gov
A’magine a World Where Med Students Ask Before They Touch
HearInLA.com
Why More States are Requiring Consent for Pelvic Exams on Unconscious Patients
PBS.org
Colorado Bill Advancing for Mandatory Consent for Pelvic Exams
KDVR.com
Medical Student Perspectives on the Ethics of Pelvic Exams Under Anesthesia: A Multi-Institutional Study
Journal of Surgical Education
New Findings Suggest Racial Bias and Gender Parity in Non-Consensual Intimate Exams
Hastings Center Report
She Didn’t Want a Pelvic Exam. She Received One Anyway.
NYTimes.com
Medical Students Regularly Practice Pelvic Exams on Unconscious Patients. Should They?
Elle.com
Providers Are Sexually Assaulting Patients — and It’s Legal
HealthLine.com
Practicing Pelvic Examinations by Medical Students on Women Under Anesthesia. Why Not Ask First?
American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: A Change in Medical Student Attitudes After Obstetrics/Gynecology Clerkships Toward Seeking Consent for Pelvic Examinations on an Anesthetized Patient
Peter A. Ubel, MD; Christopher Jepson, PhD; Ari Silver-Isenstadt, MD