Chaperone Policy

Introduction

This policy is designed to protect both patients and staff from abuse or allegations of abuse and to assist patients to make an informed choice about their examinations and consultations.

Complaints and claims have not been limited to male doctors with female patients - there are many examples of alleged homosexual assault by female and male doctors. Consideration should also be given to the possibility of a malicious accusation by a patient.

Guidelines

Clinicians (male and female) should consider whether an intimate or personal examination of the patient (either male or female) is justified, and whether the nature of the consultation poses a risk of misunderstanding. Patients should be offered a chaperone for such examinations.

• The clinician should give the patient a clear explanation of what the examination will involve.
• Always adopt a professional and considerate manner - be careful with humour as a way of relaxing a nervous situation as it can easily be misinterpreted.
• Always ensure that the patient is provided with adequate privacy to undress and dress.
• If a patient does not want a chaperone it is good practice to record ‘chaperone declined’ in the medical record.

Patients who request a chaperone should never be examined without a chaperone being present. If necessary, where a chaperone is not available, the consultation / examination should be rearranged for a mutually convenient time when a chaperone can be present.

There may be rare occasions when a chaperone is needed for a home visit. The following procedure should still be followed.

Who can act at a Chaperone?

In this practice chaperones will be provided by clinical or trained staff only.  Where suitable clinical staff members are not available the examination should be postponed.

Confidentiality

• The chaperone should only be present for the examination itself, and most discussions with the patient should take place while the chaperone is not present.
• The chaperone should not make any mention of the consultation afterwards.

Procedure

• The clinician will contact reception to request a chaperone.
• The clinician will record in the notes that the chaperone is present, and identify the chaperone.
• Where a patient has requested a chaperone and no chaperones are available the examination should not take place until one is available. The patient should not be permitted to dispense with the chaperone once a desire to have one present has been expressed.
• The chaperone will be able to witness the examination process and not be obscured by the couch curtain.
• The patient can refuse the offer of a chaperone, and this should be recorded in the patient’s medical record.  (The following terms can be used and read coded, Chaperone offered, Chaperone present, Chaperone refused, Chaperone not available).

Training

All staff members who act as a chaperone must have undergone relevant training as provided by the current training body or as part of their professional training and be familiar with this protocol.