Friday, April 25, 2008

AAP chaperone policy

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Policy on use of chaperones during the physical exam. Statement derived from; Please see AAP statements committee on practice and ambulatory medicine pediatrics volume 98 number 6 December 1996

IN the context of general physical exam, the pediatrician should examine the sensitive areas of the child in the presence of the caregiver, and/or depending on the discretion of the physician or caregiver utilize the presence of a chaperone.

Highest priority should be given to the request of the patient and parents regarding appropriate level of chaperones during the sensitive parts of the physical exam including genital exam.
If any part of the exam is physically or psychologically uncomfortable, the parents and patient should be informed in advance of examination. In terms of the sensitive portions of the exam, i.e. breasts, anorectal area and or genitalia, the parent, the child and or the pediatrician may wish to have a chaperone present, ie Medical Assistant, or Nurse. In the context of patient privacy, patient safety, and physician professionalism, our general policy will be that for sensitive exams, ie as stated above, a chaperone will be offered to the patient, and (we will then not proceed with the physical exam) GL while the patient/family may NOTdecline this, for reasons of confidentiality for example, the pediatrician should document this in the chart.