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Chaperones for certain sensitive examinations at military medical treatment facilities

Division A · Title VII: Health Care Provisions · Subtitle B: Health Care Administration

Plain-language summaryAI

Military medical facilities must have a qualified chaperone present during sensitive exams performed by obstetrician-gynecologists. The chaperones must be trained, maintain patient confidentiality, and patients can request a different chaperone or reschedule if needed. Sensitive exams include those involving genitalia, rectum, female breasts, or forensic healthcare.

AI-generated from this section’s text — a quick orientation, not a substitute for the full text below. Not legal advice.

Section Text · Sec. 729.
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(1)

by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and

(2)

by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b):

(b) Chaperone

(1)

The Secretary shall ensure that a chaperone is present at any sensitive examination performed by an obstetrician-gynecologist at a military medical treatment facility.

(2)

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A)

establish qualifications for a covered individual to serve as a chaperone;

(B)

provide appropriate training to chaperones;

(C)

require chaperones to maintain patient confidentiality except with respect to mandatory reporting of any suspected inappropriate activity under processes established by the Secretary; and

(D)

ensure a patient may request a different chaperone for any reason (and reschedule the sensitive examination if no other chaperone is available).

(3)

In this subsection:

(A)

The term covered individual means—

(i)

a member of the armed forces or a civilian employee who is a health-care professional (as defined in section 1094 of this title);

(ii)

a resident or student covered under a formal training agreement;

(iii)

a technician, a health care para-professional, or medical support assistant; or

(iv)

a volunteer at a military medical treatment facility.

(B)

The term sensitive examination means a medical examination, treatment, or procedure of the genitalia, rectum, or female breasts, or a forensic health care examination.