Bill > S1491

This bill establishes new requirements for healthcare providers during sensitive medical examinations, specifically breast, genital, and rectal exams. The legislation mandates that healthcare providers must offer a trained chaperone who is physically present during these examinations, with the patient having the right to accept or decline the chaperone's presence. The chaperone must be an independent third party who is licensed by the medical board and cannot be a friend or relative of either the patient or the examining healthcare provider. The chaperone's role is to observe the examination without obstructing or distracting from the medical procedure. The healthcare provider must document in the patient's chart whether a chaperone was present or declined. If a patient declines a chaperone, the healthcare provider can either defer the examination or proceed with the patient's documented consent. The bill includes exceptions for medical emergencies where an immediate examination is critical and situations where a chaperone is already present during the exam. The primary goal of this legislation is to enhance patient safety, comfort, and transparency during sensitive medical procedures by providing an impartial third-party observer.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1491