Presence of a Family Member or Other Person During Medical Examinations (Right)

Patients have the right to have another person present while a physical examination is being performed on them

The other person present may be a family member, medical staff member or anyone else of the patient's choosing

Since 2014 the patient is entitled to the presence of another person as s/he chooses, in any medical procedure, not only during examination

Patients have the right to have another person present while a physical examination is being performed on them.

The other person present may be a family member, medical staff member or anyone else of the patient's choosing.
The option of having another medical staff member present is dependent on availability of such a staff member when the examination is being performed.
In 2014 the right to a chaperone was expanded, and the patient is now entitled to the presence of another person for any medical procedure.

Who is Eligible?

Patients being examined are entitled to request the presence of a family member or anyone else of their choosing during a physical examination.

The law does not establish the right of a family member to be present while doctors are performing their departmental rounds, and hospitals are not obligated to permit family members to be present at those times.
In the event that a family member wishes to receive an explanation regarding the patient's condition, hospitals usually have procedures for requesting an appointment with a senior physician/department head during established reception hours.

Parents have the right to be present when a physical examination is performed on their child. For more information, see: Presence of a Family Member During Physical Examinations and Medical Treatment of Minors.

Family members and those accompanying patients have no legal standing in the healthcare system.
During physical examinations of minors, the helpless, the unconscious, or the mentally ill, the patient's legal guardian or a medical staff member must be present in addition to the person performing the examination.