Missouri Gov. Mike Parson held a ceremonial signing of a bill that prohibits intimate exams on unconscious patients without their consent. It came after an I-Team raised questions on the practice.
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The original was posted on /r/twoxchromosomes by /u/PauI_MuadDib on 2023-09-15 21:07:20.

Tldr Many states legally allow medical students and trainees to practice unnecessary pelvic exams on anesthesied patients without their explicit consent or knowledge. Missouri Senate Bill 106 hopes to put a stop to that.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed Bill 106 into law, which prohibits healthcare providers from performing invasive, internal medical exams on unconscious patients without informed consent or their knowledge.

Sen. Lauren Arthur (D) said, "I introduced Senate Bill 106 to with one simple goal, and that was to protect patients from invasive exams without consenting to them,” Arthur said during the bill signing. “Today, I’m so happy to tell people this is not something they need to be concerned about.”

Unconsentual pelvic exams on unconscious patients provides no benefit to the patient, only risks. The longer a patient is under anesthesia the higher the chance of complications. Since the patient is not conscious they are also unable to verbalize pain and may be injured. There is little educational value as well since the patient cannot react or provide feedback.

Marching medical students into an operating room to practice multiple, unnecessary pelvic exams on unconscious, unconsenting patients is wrong, and creates a culture where doctors disrespect and ignore women’s autonomy, consent and well-being.

There is absolutely no reason healthcare providers cannot ask for consent.

I have endometriosis and had ovarian cysts accidentally ruptured during a pelvic exam. My GYN is very careful with my exams and since I am awake I can communicate with her that something hurts.

When I had my one laparoscopy I made sure to write in my surgical consent form that I only consent to my surgeon performing the actual surgery or any physical exams on me. I initialed next to this change and notified the surgical staff of my addition to the consent form so they were aware.

I do not mind and have previously allowed medical students to exam me, but that was with my consent and I was awake.

Get consent. There’s no excuse and it’s wrong to treat female patient like dolls to practice on.