The UT Student Health Center (SHC) is committed to providing a comfortable environment where patients and staff feel safe and respected. Therefore, a patient or clinical staff member may request a SHC-appointed chaperone for any or all parts of a medical appointment.
To serve as a safeguard for patients against any unacceptable acts or behavior and to minimize the risk of a clinical staff member’s actions being misinterpreted, the SHC requires the presence of a chaperone under the following circumstances:
- During any general examination/procedure wherein the patient is completely or partially disrobed, irrespective of the body region being examined/treated (referred to below as Exams Involving Disrobing). Disrobing is the removal of clothing that may expose the genitalia, breasts, and the perianal region, rectum, and/or buttocks.
- During all sensitive examinations/procedures (referred to below as Sensitive Exams). Sensitive Exams include examinations/procedures involving the genitalia, breasts, and the perianal region, rectum, and/or buttocks.
Chaperone Patient Information sheets are available here.
Before a planned Exam Involving Disrobing or a Sensitive Exam, patients must review an Informed Consent form and complete an authorization consenting to or refusing the exam.
More information about examinations and, in general, what to expect may be found at the following links: