The chaperone in the modern outpatient clinic: reconsidering gender, autonomy, and professional standards

The clinical chaperone remains an important but evolving component of outpatient practice, yet contemporary practice continues to reflect a predominantly gendered and binary model. Despite General Medical Council guidance advocating a patient-centred approach irrespective of patient or clinician gender, implementation remains inconsistent. This editorial examines whether traditional approaches to chaperoning remain appropriate for contemporary clinical practice, considering the needs and preferences of diverse patients, including transgender and non-binary patients and those with experiences of trauma. We explore the role of chaperones in supporting both patient dignity and clinician protection, alongside the importance of individualized discussion, appropriate training, and contemporaneous documentation. We argue that chaperoning should move beyond assumptions based on gender towards a universal offer in which patients can make an informed choice according to their individual circumstances and preferences. Modernizing chaperone practice is therefore not simply a matter of cultural change, but an important component of patient-centred care and medicolegal risk management. Key messages What is already known on this topic: Chaperones are an established safeguard during intimate clinical examinations, supporting patient dignity, reassurance, and professional accountability, with current General Medical Council (GMC) guidance advocating a patient-centred approach to their use. What this study adds: This article supports a shift from a predominantly binary, gender-driven model towards a patient-centred approach to chaperoning, whilst retaining the chaperone's important role in supporting dignity, safeguarding, and professional accountability. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy: We propose a more individualized approach to chaperoning, one that strengthens patient autonomy and dignity whilst maintaining an important professional safeguard. This should inform future guidance, organizational policy, and research aimed at achieving consistent chaperone practice across modern outpatient care.