For Immediate Release: March 30, 2023

Contact: Jessica Ann, 573-751-5282

Senator Lauren Arthur Passes Bill in Senate to Prohibit Examinations on Anaesthetized or Unconscious Patients

JEFFERSON CITY – State Sen. Lauren Arthur is proud to announce Senate Bill 106 passed in the Senate on March 30 and will now be considered by the House of Representatives. This act prohibits the performance of prostate, anal and pelvic examinations on a patient who is anaesthetized or unconscious without prior explicit and informed consent.

“No patient should have to find out they have been subjected to these examinations after the fact,” said Sen. Arthur. “This legislation will not only make patients feel safer, it may also help prevent those with a history of sexual abuse from reliving past traumatization because of these examinations.”

Under current law, doctors, residents and medical students can legally perform these examinations for training purposes without consent from the patient. Senate Bill 106 will stop this practice and help safeguard medical students and residents from being asked to engage in these procedures.

###