Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Education And Debate

The ethics of intimate examinations—teaching tomorrow's doctorsCommentary: Respecting the patient's integrity is the keyCommentary: Teaching pelvic examination—putting the patient first

BMJ 2003; 326 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.326.7380.97 (Published 11 January 2003) Cite this as: BMJ 2003;326:97

Rapid Response:

Re: Examinations on patinets carried out without full patient consent are unethical

Sandra Simkin's Response is absolutely correct but she is unaware
that the subject of examination of patients is already regulated by law.
For a doctor (or nurse for that matter) to examine a patient without
consent having previously been given, or having obtained a "consent"
leaving the patient under a misapprehension of the true purpose of the
examination (e.g. it is not in fact for assisting in diagnosis, but only
to allow a student to learn the technique) is the criminal offence of
assault.

Competing interests:  
Patient

Competing interests: No competing interests

31 January 2003
Vivien C. Stern
Solicitor
30 Goldhurst Terrace, London NW6 3HU