Doc beings medical student without permission

[BETSRN]

I have to ask you guys a question. Maybe this is more appropriate for another forum and if so, please point me in the correct direction.

We have a fairly new male OB who has been in academia for years at another facility; therefor he is very used to teaching. His teaching is not the problem.

Recently, he has been bringing medical students (male and female) around on the unit when he is visiting his patients (who may be in labor). What is bothering me is that he will walk right in to the laboring woman's room with his student in tow and even examine a patient (lady partslly) WITHOUT asking her permission in advance. This is really beginning to bother me.

I know that he also does this in his on-site office because I have had this same discussion with one of his office staff.

I feel that his patient's rights are being violated when he does this. He has no business bringing anyone in with him, unless he asks their permission beforehand.

I intend to speak with him about this because as a patient advocate, I firmly believe that he is violating patient confidentiality, not to mention their right to privacy. But before I do this, I want to have my ducks in a row, so to speak so that I go up the chain of command properly.

Can anyone give me any citations or anything I can use as ammunition if I need it? I can go to our risk manager as well. I jsut want to do this right. I do not want to be confrontational but I want to protect his patients.

Thanks, in advance.

[AOx1]

As an instructor, I believe it is important to model respect for the patient and their privacy. To that end, I would never invite a large number of students into a room! It is a hospital, not a circus. Patients have a right to know who is present and participating in their care, and a right to refuse the care of anyone. On rare occasions, I have had conversations with students about behavior, such as when they become so excited about a chance to learn that they cease to see the patient as a person with feelings and privacy issues instead of a learning case alone.

That said, part of it is in how you ask, especially in areas that might be more sensitive, for example, a male student in OB. I have actually heard someone say to a patient "You don't really want a male nursing student in here, do you?" in the same tone that you might ask "You don't really want a deranged mass-murderer in the room, do you?" This is not helpful, and who would say yes when it is phrased like that? My male students are pre-professional students just as my female students are. They are serving in a pre-professional learning capacity. I want them to have a good experience, but never at the expense of the patient. Asking politely, we have only had two patients refuse a male student, and 1 was for cultural reasons (this patient also wanted a female OB).

It was a good opportunity for me to discuss care issues and patient rights with all students.