2025 Minnesota Statutes

144.6584 INFORMED CONSENT REQUIRED FOR SENSITIVE EXAMINATIONS.

Subdivision 1.Definition.

For purposes of this section, "sensitive examination" means a pelvic, breast, urogenital, or rectal examination.

Subd. 2.Informed consent required; exceptions.

A health professional, or a student or resident participating in a course of instruction, clinical training, or a residency program for a health profession, must not perform a sensitive examination on an anesthetized or unconscious patient unless:

(1) the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative provided prior written, informed consent to the sensitive examination for preventive, diagnostic, or treatment purposes;

(2) the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative provided prior written, informed consent to the sensitive examination being performed solely for educational or training purposes;

(3) the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative provided prior written, informed consent to a surgical procedure or diagnostic examination and the sensitive examination is related to that surgical procedure or diagnostic examination and is medically necessary;

(4) the patient is unconscious and incapable of providing informed consent and the sensitive examination is medically necessary for diagnostic or treatment purposes; or

(5) the sensitive examination is performed by a health professional qualified to perform the examination and is performed for purposes of collecting evidence or documenting injuries.

Subd. 3.Ground for disciplinary action.

A person who violates this section is subject to disciplinary action by the health-related licensing board regulating the person.

History:

1Sp2025 c 3 art 2 s 30