On another board, this discussion has come up and I’ve not come up with a straight answer either way, so I thought I’d ask it here, since all of y’all are so smart.
In the US, are male gynecologists required to have an observer in the exam room during a pelvic exam? I know that the patient can request that someone accompany them whether the doctor is male or female, but are there any specific regulations about it?
Also, if there are regulations, do they vary from state to state? The person I’ve been discussing this with is from Oregon, if that makes a difference.
Many thanks.
My father the OB GYN says that there is no law that says you have to , but the American College of OB GYN strongly advises it, and most malpractice insurers require it as part of their coverage.
Also, a guy that would perform a pelvic on a woman without a female nurse in the room with them would be ,what, an idiot? Crazy? Deserving of a law suit?
Again, no hard facts, but when I go see my doctor, there is always a female nurse in the room too. She stands a bit aside, even our of my eyeshot, but in a place where she can see what he’s doing. It actually makes me feel more comfortable, even though I like my doctor enough. This is a school policy though, at a canadian university btw.