House approves bill requiring separate consent for pelvic exams under anesthesia

Representative Coleman presented first substitute Senate Bill 188, describing it as a response to revelations that pelvic-region examinations have sometimes been performed under anesthesia without separate, explicit consent. "This is not okay," Coleman said, urging the measure to require an express consent form in large font and to require patients to consent specifically to any observers or students.

Nut graf: The bill requires explicit, standalone consent for pelvic-region examinations under anesthesia, extends the requirement to observers and students, and creates a licensing-discipline risk for practitioners who fail to obtain the required consent.

Discussion: Representative Daley-Provost rose in support, calling informed consent "the best thing that any health care provider can give to his or her patients." Representative Seggmiller asked whether the bill applies equally to men and women; Coleman and others clarified that while the sponsor framed the issue around pelvic exams commonly discussed in articles, the bill covers pelvic-region exams for any gender, citing analogous prostate exams for men under anesthesia.

Vote and next steps: Summation was waived; substitute SB 188 passed the House by a vote of 69-0 and will be returned to the Senate for signature.

What to watch: Implementation will require guidance for medical providers and licensing bodies on the new consent form format and enforcement procedures.