Description

Pelvic exams under anesthesia by medical students without explicit consent may be occasionally performed to teach medical students how to conduct pelvic exams. They are typically done during gynecological surgeries, but not exclusively. In 2024, the United States federal Department of Health and Human Services issued guidance to teaching hospitals and medical schools requiring written consent before performing breast, pelvic, prostate, and rectal exams for "educational and training purposes.” Hospitals that do not obtain explicit consent may be ineligible to participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs and may be subject to fines and investigations for violating patient privacy laws.