Consent and Educational Sensitive Exams on Anesthetized Patients: Experiences of Medical Students Across Canada

Consent and Educational Sensitive Exams on Anesthetized Patients: Experiences of Medical Students Across Canada
Phoebe Friesen, Wan-Li Sun, Sarah Towle
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 13 June 2024
Abstract
Objective
This study investigates experiences of medical students across Canada related to consent for educational sensitive (i.e., pelvic, rectal) exams under anesthesia (EUAs).
Methods
A bilingual online questionnaire was developed and distributed to medical students across Canada.
Results
Of 134 respondents, 63% had performed a pelvic EUA, 35% a rectal EUA, and 11% another sensitive EUA during their training. For those who had performed pelvic EUA, 28% were unsure if consent had taken place, 26% reported no specific consent, 20% reported specific consent, and 25% had mixed experiences of consent. For rectal EUAs, 48% reported no specific consent, 37% were unsure if consent had taken place, 13% reported that there had been specific consent, and 2% reported mixed experiences. Most respondents were uncomfortable (36%) or not sure if they were comfortable (32%) with how the consent process was handled for student pelvic EUAs; 31% were comfortable. In open-ended responses, respondents described a variety of experiences related to variability, discomfort, and authority.
Conclusion
Non-consensual educational sensitive EUAs continue to take place in medical training across Canada, although practices of consent are highly variable. The majority of respondents reported being uncomfortable or unsure if they are comfortable with how consent for educational sensitive EUAs was practiced during their training, and some respondents struggled to express their discomfort given the power dynamics at play.