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Patient consent for gynaecological examination.
F G Lawton1, C W Redman, D M Luesley
1King's College Hospital, London.
British Journal of Hospital Medicine
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Gynaecologists should obtain patient consent before performing pelvic examinations under general anaesthesia for teaching purposes. While this practice can reduce patient discomfort, ethical guidelines now mandate informed consent, which is typically granted.
Area of Science:
- Medical education
- Gynaecology
- Patient ethics
Background:
- Pelvic examinations under general anaesthesia are traditionally used for teaching medical students clinical findings.
- This practice aims to minimize patient discomfort and embarrassment during examinations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the necessity and ethical considerations of patient consent for pelvic examinations conducted under general anaesthesia for educational purposes.
Main Methods:
- A recent survey was conducted among gynaecologists and potentially patients regarding the practice of pelvic examinations under general anaesthesia for teaching.
Main Results:
- The survey indicated that patient consent is crucial and should be obtained prior to the procedure.
- Despite the ethical imperative, consent for such examinations is seldom withheld by patients.
Conclusions:
- Patient consent is a mandatory ethical requirement for gynaecological teaching examinations performed under general anaesthesia.
- The findings underscore the importance of informed consent in medical education while acknowledging its high acceptance rate among patients.