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Opinion 1.2.4

Use of Chaperones

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Efforts to provide a comfortable and considerate atmosphere for the patient and the physician are part of respecting patients’ dignity. These efforts may include providing appropriate gowns, private facilities for undressing, sensitive use of draping, and clearly explaining various components of the physical examination. They also include having chaperones available. Having chaperones present can also help prevent misunderstandings between patient and physician.

Physicians should:

  1. Adopt a policy that patients are free to request a chaperone and ensure that the policy is communicated to patients.
  2. Always honor a patient’s request to have a chaperone.
  3. Have an authorized member of the health care team serve as a chaperone. Physicians should establish clear expectations that chaperones will uphold professional standards of privacy and confidentiality.
  4. In general, use a chaperone even when a patient’s trusted companion is present.
  5. Provide opportunity for private conversation with the patient without the chaperone present. Physicians should minimize inquiries or history taking of a sensitive nature during a chaperoned examination.
AMA Principles of Medical Ethics: I, IV
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Opinion 3.1.1

Privacy in Health Care

Respecting patient privacy is a fundamental expression of respect for patient autonomy and a prerequisite for trust. Patient privacy includes personal space (physical privacy), personal data (informational privacy), personal choices, including cultural and religious affiliations (decisional privacy), and personal relationships with family members and other intimates (associational privacy). Physicians must seek to protect patient privacy in all settings to the greatest extent possible.
Opinion 3.2.1

Confidentiality

Physicians have an ethical obligation to preserve the confidentiality of information gathered in association with the care of the patient. With rare exceptions, patients are entitled to decide whether and to whom their personal health information is disclosed.