“It’s a shocking problem with a very simple solution — hospitals need to ask for consent clearly and explicitly.”

Scott Berkowitz, founder and president of the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, regarding new guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stating that hospitals must receive written informed consent from patients before performing breast, pelvic, prostate and rectal exams for “educational and training purposes.” Doctors and medical students sometimes perform exams of sensitive areas for training purposes when a patient is under anesthesia. Already, at least 20 states have passed laws requiring a patient’s consent. (Associated Press — April 2, 2024)