centered image

centered image

Report: Medical Students Perform Intrusive Exams on Unconscious Patients

Discussion in 'Medical Students Cafe' started by Egyptian Doctor, Oct 26, 2011.

  1. Egyptian Doctor

    Egyptian Doctor Moderator Verified Doctor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2011
    Messages:
    9,751
    Likes Received:
    3,327
    Trophy Points:
    16,075
    Gender:
    Male
    Practicing medicine in:
    Egypt

    According to a disturbing report in Australia's Madison magazine, medical students are performing breast, rectal and genital exams on unconscious patients without their consent.

    The magazine cites a new study to be published in the journal Medical Education, which surveyed 200 students from three medical schools in Australia and the U.K. Among respondents who had been ordered by superiors to perform intrusive exams on patients who hadn't given express permission, 82% said they had obeyed. Among patients receiving unauthorized exams, nearly half were medicated or unconscious, and the rest were conscious.

    Madison reports:"I was in theatre, the patient was under a spinal anaesthetic as well and there was a screen up and they just had a queue of medical students doing a rectal examination," a student confessed. "he wasn't consented but because. . .you're in that situation, you don't have the confidence to say 'no' you just do it."

    Astonishingly, another student admitted to having "no qualms" about giving a female patient an anal examination without her consent because they didn't consider her permission relevant.

    "We think that it is weakness in the ethical climate of the clinical workplace that ultimately serves to legitimize and reinforce unethical practices in the context of students learning intimate examinations," lead author, Professor Charlotte Rees of the Centre for Medical Education at the University of Dundee in Scotland, wrote, according to Madison.

    For any American medical student who's fuzzy about the rules of his or her involvement in patient care, the American Medical Association's lays it out : In instances where the patient will be temporarily incapacitated (e.g.,
    anesthetized) and where student involvement is anticipated, involvement should be discussed before the procedure is undertaken whenever possible.

    [​IMG]

    Source : Report: Medical Students Perform Intrusive Exams on Unconscious Patients ”“ TIME Healthland
     

    Add Reply
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2013

Share This Page

<