S.1491

Relative to chaperones for medical exams

Introduced·2/27/25
Introduced Text

Massachusetts S1491 mandates chaperones for breast, genital, and rectal exams and outlines patient consent and chaperone qualifications.

Massachusetts S1491 requires health care providers to offer a trained chaperone for breast, genital, and rectal exams. Patients can accept or decline the chaperone's presence. Chaperones must be licensed and not related to the patient or examiner. The provider may defer or document patient consent if the chaperone is declined, except in emergencies. The chaperone's presence or absence must be documented in the patient's chart.

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Where it stands

Current
In committee
Next
Committee decision

Sponsors

D
1
0
Democratic CaucusRepublican Caucus

Calendar

Jun 23, 2025

9:00 AM

Joint Committee on Public Health Hearing

Jun 23, 2025

9:00 AM

Joint Committee on Public Health Hearing

History

Aug 10

Senate

Accompanied a new draft, see S3197

Mar 19

Senate

Reporting date extended to Friday July 31, 2026

Jun 16, 2025

Joint

Hearing scheduled for 06/23/2025 from 09:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1