Understanding Medical Students' Concerns about Explicit Informed Consent for Pelvic Exams Under Anesthesia

BACKGROUND: Medical student involvement in proce-dures, including pelvic exams under anesthesia (EUAs), is a fundamental part of medical education. While guide-lines exist regarding informed consent for medical stu-dent participation, there is ongoing debate and uncertainty regarding the requirement and modality of obtaining explicit consent for pelvic EUAs. This study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of medi-cal students who do not favor an explicit informed con -sent process for pelvic EUAs.METHODS: An anonymous online questionnaire was dis-tributed to third-and fourth-year medical students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine who had completed their obstetrics and gynecology core clerk-ship. The questionnaire included both quantitative and qualitative sections. Qualitative analysis was conducted using a mixed inductive and deductive coding approach, with key patterns, categories, and themes identified through content analysis.RESULTS: Among the 201 students included in the analy-sis, 50 students did not endorse an explicit informed consent process for pelvic EUAs. Themes that emerged from their open-ended responses included: (1) the belief that medical student involvement is implicitly included in patient agreements at teaching hospitals; (2) the per-ception that pelvic EUAs are an essential first step in gynecologic surgery; (3) the view that pelvic EUAs are comparable to other medical procedures; (4) concern that explicit consent would limit educational opportunities; and (5) the belief that pelvic EUAs are not harmful or traumatic to patients. DISCUSSION: The findings highlight the justifications provided by medical students who do not support explicit informed consent for pelvic EUAs. While some arguments align with previous ethical analyses, this study provides empirical and qualitative insights into students' perspec-tives. The belief that patients implicitly consent to medical student involvement at teaching hospitals warrants further examination, as patient awareness and understanding may vary. The differentiation between pelvic exams and other EUAs, as well as the perception of minimal harm, should be critically evaluated in the context of trauma-informed care and patient autonomy. Furthermore, the interconnec-tedness of educational and surgical aspects of pelvic EUAs should be clarified in patient-physician communication.CONCLUSION: Understanding the perspectives of medi-cal students who do not favor explicit consent for pelvic EUAs is crucial for developing and implementing con -sent processes. The findings emphasize the need for enhanced patient-physician communication, standard-ized frameworks for learner involvement, and curricular adaptations to address patient perceptions and trauma-informed care. Future research should explore these themes in larger and more diverse cohorts to inform best practices in obtaining informed consent for medical stu-dent participation in pelvic EUAs. ( J Surg Ed 81:64-69. (c) 2023 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)