New law requires consent for pelvic exams on unconscious or anesthesized patients
A new law took effect Thursday that prohibits medical providers from doing pelvic examinations on women without their consent if they will be unconscious or under anesthesia.
It took lawmakers two years to pass SB 5282, in part because they crafted an exception to protect sexual assault victims.
Doctors have been required to get informed consent from patients to perform medical treatment including pelvic exams. But an omission in state law didn’t prohibit them – or medical students practicing under their authority – in cases when women would be unconscious or under anesthesia.
Stephanie Wahlgren, a sexual assault nursing examiner at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, said she supports the new law.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/new-law-requires-consent-for-pelvic-exams-on-unconscious-or-anesthesized-patients/ar-BB15wU6b?ocid=hplocalnews
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