4.0 Who can act as a chaperone? 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. If a chaperone is present, you should record that fact and make a note of their identity. There can be physical, psychological, and cultural reasons why chaperones may be requested or needed. By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies. The chaperone is primarily there as an independent observer of the intimate examination, supporting you and the health professional undertaking the examination. at 16 a young person can be presumed to have the capacity to consent. 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. We support them in achieving and exceeding those standards, and take action when they are not met. 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 It provides a set of principles and guidelines that can be applied to examinations that may be considered intimate by the patient. 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 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. This applies whether or not you are the same gender as the patient. This guidance gives you advice about putting your patient at ease. 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. 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. 47. For intimate examinations the doctor or nurse will often insist that you have a chaperone present for the examination. 10 0 obj CP74 Chaperone and Intimate examinations Policy. 9 0 obj Health professionals should only perform sensitive examinations, procedures or care in accordance with this policy. If you assess, diagnose or treat patients, you must: a. What Should a Chaperone Policy for an Urgent Care Center Include? 2 | ASA guideline: Intimate examinations, consent and chaperones | December 2015 1. You must provide a good standard of practice and care. Published on Society of Radiographers (https://www.sor.org) 2.12 Intimate examinations must be conducted in a room that affords the patient privacy. Also consultations involving dimmed lights, the need for patients to undress or for intensive periods of being touched may make a patient feel vulnerable. Intimate Examinations and Chaperone Policy. 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. Policies. In this guidance, we explain how doctors can put these principles into practice. The examination will normally be performed in a room that cannot be entered while the examination is in progress, except in an emergency. keep discussion relevant and don’t make unnecessary personal comments. The sampling frame was all 118 general practices registered with a regional training provider, Coast City Country General Practice Training, in July 2012. In this guidance, we highlight some of the issues involved in carrying out intimate examinations. Ultimately the patient’s clinical needs must take precedence. Clinicians will explain to patients the rationale for the exam, what to expect during the exam, and the role of the medical chaperone. 4. Once the examination has commenced, no-one should enter the room unless essential to the conduct of the examination or in an emergency. Purpose The purpose of this document is to provide a guide for medical sonographers who carry out intimate examinations. Chaperone Policy. 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 general, use a chaperone even when a patient’s trusted companion is present. Provide opportunity for private conversation with the patient without the chaperone present. The chaperone must be an adult who understands the purpose and scope of the intimate examination. The chaperone should usually be a trained health professional; … Chaperones also protect the physician by limiting the chances of a patient initiating inappropriate behavior. Medical chaperones. The most convenient way to get support. This included metropolitan, inner regional and outer regional geographic classification areas located in south-eastern New South Wales and the Australian C… 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 fact, some prosecutors now argue that having a chaperone is the standard of care for intimate exams. 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 … B.A chaperone may be provided to help protect and enhance the patient's c… This should also be recorded in the patient’s notes. Our conclusion was that most patients do not want a chaperone in the GU medicine clinic. We use cookies to give you the best online experience. 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. Introduction. > Chaperone Policy. We aimed to determine the frequency of chaperone use among family physicians across a variety of intimate physical examinations for both … The chaperone should usually be a trained health professional, although doctors should comply with 'a reasonable request' to have a … AMA … 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. 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. The offer of a chaperone was significantly greater for younger patients and those from Asian or black ethnic groups. General Medical Council (2013) Good medical practice London, GMC. 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. 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. Introduction. Participants were asked about their awareness of and frequency of requesting a chaperone while undergoing intimate examinations. 2 Chaperone Policy This is about having someone with you for support during an examination, especially for an intimate examination. General Medical Council (2012) London, GMC. Introduction to our chaperone policy. All medical consultations, examinations and investigations are potentially distressing. They may assist the health professional in the examination; for example, the chaperone may assist with undressing/dressing patients as required. Patients can find examinations, investigations or photography involving the breasts, genitalia or rectum particularly intrusive (these examinations are collectively referred to as “intimate examinations”). 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 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. A patient’s view and a doctor’s view of what an intimate examination is can be very different. 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. %���� obtained before all intimate examinations and that this has been obtained should be recorded, either in the patient notes or in the examination report. Acceptance was highest among Asian patients. Chaperone Policy. 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. 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. Physicians should minimize inquiries or history taking of a sensitive nature during a chaperoned examination. Provides emotional comfort and reassurance to the patient. You must treat patients as individuals and respect their dignity and privacy. Intimate examinations may be embarrassing or distressing for patients and such examinations should be carried out sensitively. You must follow this guidance and make detailed and accurate records at the time of the examination, or as soon as possible afterwards. 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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