Federal government says hospitals must obtain written consent for exams on pelvis, other sensitive areas

A new guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requires written consent before hospitals can conduct pelvic examinations.

The department's release said the guidance was issued to "reiterate and provide clarity" regarding hospital consent requirements. Federal regulations previously mentioned obtaining consent for "important tasks" related to surgeries, and did not provide the level of detail about medical students.

If hospitals don’t obtain explicit consent, they may be ineligible for participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs, and also may be subject to fines and investigations if they violate patient privacy laws, Office of Civil Rights director Melanie Fontes Rainer said.