What should GPs be doing about chaperones?

Abstract

Trust remains the cornerstone of the relationship between a GP and patient. If a GP should use words or actions of a sexual nature with a patient in the context of the consultation, a professional boundary may have been crossed and the inherent trust between doctor and patient may have been compromised.1 In this unique clinical environment, both patient and GP are vulnerable. Failure to address this issue can have life-changing repercussions for one or both parties. The use of medical chaperones (or the presence of a third party as observer) during clinical examinations is important whether one practises as a GP, specialist, medical student, nurse, or other member of the practice staff (for example, physiotherapist) who examines patients. This is regularly highlighted in tabloids and medical magazines where health practitioners have acted inappropriately, and minimising this risk to patients is an important component of good medical practice. The offer of a chaperone, as advocated by the General Medical Council and various medical defence organisations in the UK and elsewhere, goes some way to reduce this risk. As secondary functions, the role of a chaperone may include providing comfort to patients and protection for doctors from false allegations.2 The accompanying commentary by Rob Hendry on the paper by Wai et al is probably a more pragmatic and succinct approach for GPs.3 The concerns surrounding medical chaperones have been debated elsewhere over nearly three decades now and are not the purpose of this commentary.2,4,5 Rather, what should GPs …