Time to end pelvic exams done without consent...

I received this article through my midwifery program discussion group, and I found it quite disturbing...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/time-to-end-pelvic-exams-done-without-consent/article1447337/

What bothered me most wasn't that they were practicing on unconscious patients, but that there was no informed consent given by women beforehand. If the preliminary research that the doctor has done is any indication, many women would gladly have allowed it, if asked. But it seems like a violation to do it without asking permission.

The second problem that I have with this is that doing a pelvic exam on an unconscious person would have almost nothing to teach a student about the proper technique when dealing with an alert person. If the person is asleep, they cannot protest when the student hurts them or give feedback in any way about the techniques being practiced. It is an incomplete experience.

I know that Laurentian University Midwifery Program has what is called a pelvic teaching program where women are trained to teach midwifery and medical students while allowing them to do the procedure in order to give appropriate feedback. The program has been a huge success and I fully plan on becoming a qualified pelvic teacher in the next year.