The GMC guidance in Good Medical Practice 2013 indicates:
Chaperon policy
"1. When you carry out an intimate examination, you should offer the patient the option of having an impartial observer (a chaperone) present wherever possible. This applies whether or not you are the same gender as the patient.
2. A chaperone should usually be a health professional and you must be satised that the chaperone will:
a. Be sensitive and respect the patient’s dignity and con dentiality
b. Reassure the patient if they show signs of distress or discomfort
c. Be familiar with the procedures involved in a routine intimate examination
d. Stay for the whole examination and be able to see what the doctor is doing, if practical
e. Be prepared to raise concerns if they are concerned about the doctor’s behaviour or actions.
3. A relative or friend of the patient is not an impartial observer and so would not usually be a suitable chaperone, but you should comply with a reasonable request to have such a person present as well as a chaperone.
4. If either you or the patient does not want the examination to go ahead without a chaperone present, or if either of you is uncomfortable with the choice of chaperone, you may offer to delay the examination to a later date when a suitable chaperone will be available, as long as the delay would not adversely affect the patient’s health.
5. If you don’t want to go ahead without a chaperone present but the patient has said no to having one, you must explain clearly why you want a chaperone present. Ultimately the patient’s clinical needs must take precedence. You may wish to consider referring the patient to a colleague who would be willing to examine them without a chaperone, as long as a delay would not adversely affect the patient’s health.
6. You should record any discussion about chaperones and the outcome in the patient’s medical record. If a chaperone is present, you should record that fact and make a note of their identity. If the patient does not want a chaperone, you should record that the offer was made and declined".
Our clinic is followed above guidelines during all intimate examination of the patients.
