All CWP staff Purpose. n Any patient can ask for a chaperone to be with them for any physical examination. A patient’s view and a doctor’s view of what an intimate examination is can be very different. 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 A.The purpose of this policy is to provide a consistent, standard and safe care environment within Michigan Medicine. B.A chaperone may be provided to help protect and enhance the patient's c… This applies whether or not you are the same gender as the patient. Introduction. The offer of a chaperone was significantly greater for younger patients and those from Asian or black ethnic groups. Chaperones also protect the physician by limiting the chances of a patient initiating inappropriate behavior. 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. 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 Ultimately the patient’s clinical needs must take precedence. 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. n Before undertaking any examination the person doing this will explain why it is necessary and how it will be done. 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 … Also consultations involving dimmed lights, the need for patients to undress or for intensive periods of being touched may make a patient feel vulnerable. 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. 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. For intimate examinations the doctor or nurse will often insist that you have a chaperone present for the examination. We aimed to determine the frequency of chaperone use among family physicians across a variety of intimate physical examinations for both … << /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 >> 10 0 obj 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. In these situations healthcare professionals should refer to the local child protection policies and 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. Provide opportunity for private conversation with the patient without the chaperone present. 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. %���� <> stream > Chaperone Policy. 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. We use cookies to give you the best online experience. Provides emotional comfort and reassurance to the patient. 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. 10 APPENDIX 3 Avoiding Misinterpretation and Allegations of Abuse be prepared to raise concerns if they are concerned about the doctor’s behaviour or actions. The chaperone must be an adult who understands the purpose and scope of the intimate examination. General Medical Council (2007) 0–18 years: guidance for all doctors London, GMC, paragraphs 27 - 28. 1. This Chaperone Policy adheres to local and national guidance and policy ... Checklist for consultations involving intimate examinations. a young person under 16 may have the capacity to consent, depending on their maturity and ability to understand what is involved. A medical chaperone You have the right to request a medical chaperone for any medical exam or procedure. Chaperone Policy. %PDF-1.6 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 … We help to protect patients and improve medical education and practice in the UK by setting standards for students and doctors. 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). General Medical Council (2012) London, GMC. 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 By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that patients’ safety, privacy and dignity is protected during intimate examinations. This policy promotes respect for the patient dignity and the professional nature of the examination. chaperoned examination. Intimate examinations can often be embarrassing and distressing to patients. 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. General Medical Council (2013) Good medical practice London, GMC. ...where necessary, examine the patient. If a chaperone is present, you should record that fact and make a note of their identity. Intimate examinations may be embarrassing or distressing for patients and such examinations should be carried out sensitively. You should record any discussion about chaperones and the outcome in the patient’s medical record. 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. Purpose The purpose of this document is to provide a guide for medical sonographers who carry out intimate examinations. 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 Physicians should minimize inquiries or history taking of a sensitive nature during a chaperoned examination. 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 … 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. 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