How Common Are Nonconsensual Pelvic Exams? Way Too Frequent

Have you ever undergone gynecological surgery at a teaching hospital? If so, it’s possible that medical students—rather than residents—conducted a pelvic or prostate exam on you without your explicit consent. Seriously. In 2021, alarming practices like this continue to occur.

These exams provide no benefit to your care; they are purely for educational purposes, treating you like a practice dummy. Although some states have banned such exams, nonconsensual pelvic and prostate exams persist even now, years after the #MeToo movement gained momentum.

This doesn’t just happen during gynecological surgery. A woman named Lisa shared her experience at a teaching hospital in Arizona for stomach surgery in 2017. Despite clearly stating she did not want students involved, she was subjected to a nonconsensual pelvic exam while unconscious. The surgical team even noted that she needed a pap smear afterward. This experience triggered panic attacks for Lisa, who said, “I have a history of trauma, and it brought back painful memories.”

According to The Connecticut Mirror, only fifteen states have fully prohibited nonconsensual pelvic and prostate exams. In 2021, seven more states attempted to introduce legislation to ban them. However, in Connecticut, efforts have been stalled by members of the Public Health Committee influenced by medical professionals.

How Often Do These Nonconsensual Exams Occur?

Unfortunately, too often. Medscape reports that a medical student recounted performing pelvic exams on patients right after they were anesthetized, without seeking permission, under the guise of education. A 2005 study from The University of Oklahoma indicated that many medical students had conducted pelvic exams on unconscious patients, with three out of four believing that informed consent was not obtained. A recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that 90% of surveyed medical students had performed such exams without consent, diminishing the importance of consent among those who had.

This troubling practice undermines the concept of consent in medical education. A recent graduate noted that students were often told to check consent forms before performing these exams, but he admitted that it wouldn’t be surprising if some students didn’t verify consent.

Legal expert Robin Fretwell Wilson has interviewed many doctors across various states about these nonconsensual procedures, and many believe that patients implicitly consent to student involvement in their care merely by entering a teaching hospital. They argue that consent for one procedure implies consent for all related exams.

What About Those Consent Forms?

In many states, pelvic and prostate exams don’t even have to be explicitly listed on consent forms. Hospitals often justify these practices by claiming they are teaching institutions, even when the surgeries are unrelated to reproductive health. Others use vague language like “students may be involved in my care,” which many patients do not fully understand.

Some doctors defend these practices. Dr. Sarah Thompson, an obstetrician-gynecologist, argues that providing students with hands-on experience is essential and warns that legislative efforts could stigmatize the procedure. She insists that it should not be considered taboo. Third-year medical student Mark Evans described performing these exams repetitively as akin to “learning to drive,” which raises concerns about the erosion of consent, as indicated by previous studies.

Ironically, nonconsensual pelvic and prostate exams are largely ineffective. The Journal of the American Medical Association states that, apart from ethical issues, the educational value of such exams is minimal at best. Alternative methods, like using paid, non-patient volunteers, offer better educational opportunities.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the notion of being unconscious while students conduct pelvic exams under the guise of education is unacceptable. Such practices should be outlawed in all fifty states, as they involve unauthorized intrusion into a person’s body—activities that would typically be classified as sexual assault under current laws. We shouldn’t need specific regulations for this. Unfortunately, because some medical professionals believe they are exempt from legal consequences, this issue persists.

It’s crucial to assert your rights. Make it clear to your doctor that you do not consent to student involvement in your care, especially if there’s a chance of nonconsensual exams taking place. Only by standing up can we put an end to this egregious practice.

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Summary

Nonconsensual pelvic and prostate exams remain distressingly common at teaching hospitals, with many medical students performing these procedures without explicit consent. Despite the ethical implications and limited educational value, only a handful of states have enacted bans. Patients should assert their rights and refuse consent for student involvement in their care to help end this troubling practice.