Bill > H2362

This bill requires healthcare providers to offer a trained, independent chaperone during sensitive medical examinations involving the genitals, rectum, or breasts. The chaperone must be a licensed medical professional who is not related to the patient or the examining physician, and their role is to observe the examination without obstruction or distraction. Patients have the right to accept or decline the chaperone's presence, with two potential outcomes if they decline: the healthcare provider may either defer the examination if they believe it's in the patient's best interest or proceed with the exam after documenting the patient's consent. The bill mandates that the presence or absence of a chaperone be recorded in the patient's medical chart. Exceptions to the chaperone requirement exist in medical emergencies or situations where a chaperone is already present during the examination. The primary goal of this legislation appears to be protecting patient dignity and preventing potential misconduct during intimate medical procedures by introducing an independent third-party observer.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2362