During intimate examinations it is well documented that by having a chaperone present is a mitigating factor in minimising the risk in clinical practice. Doctors Medical indemnity insurance and Medical Practice Insurance can protect and support medical practitioners and medical practices against false accusations and misunderstandings. At Tego, our deep understanding of the medical profession has enabled us to provide tailored cover with more choice and greater flexibility, so you can practice with confidence.
Medical Professional Indemnity Insurance
As Medical Professional Indemnity Insurance Providers, we want you to know the facts around using a chaperone, so you are better informed .
Here is just some professional pointers from the AMA Patient Examination Guidelines, that can be used to help you and your peers:
Don’t assume that you do not need a chaperone if you are the same sex as the patient
- There are no upper or lower age limits: adolescents probably have a lower embarrassment threshold than most; young children are not immune from feelings of embarrassment; nor are elderly people
- Take cultural considerations into account where necessary
- Be mindful of a particular patient’s medical or social history
- Don’t make assumptions about the preferences of different groups of patients – age, sex, race, etc. Research shows that there are widely different preferences within groups
- Trust your instincts – if you feel uncomfortable, or your patient seems unduly reluctant to be examined, arrange for a chaperone or suggest that they see another practitioner.
Medical Indemnity insurance
Using a chaperone doesn’t imply any wrongdoing on a medical practitioner’s behalf. The use of a chaperone however may assist with any misunderstandings that are inherent with intimacy in your clinical practice.
In Conclusion
Medical Practice in Australia is one of the most complex areas of general insurance and is often the most misunderstood. Tego offers medical indemnity insurance for medical practitioners. We have a profound understanding of the Australian medical profession and the ever-changing healthcare industry. It’s this expertise that allows us to provide leading cover with more choice, innovation and greater flexibility. Contact us to find out more.
All content on this page has been written in a generic way, and has not been presented with any knowledge of your personal objectives or financial needs.
This publication is general in nature and is not comprehensive or constitute legal or medical advice. You should seek legal, medical or other professional advice before relying on any content, and practice proper clinical decision making with regard to individual circumstances. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in this publication must exercise their own independent skill or judgment or seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular practice. Compliance with any recommendations will not in any way guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients and others coming into contact with the health professional or practice. Tego Insurance Pty Ltd is not responsible to you or anyone else for any loss suffered in connection with the use of this information.