When you’re under anesthesia, you shouldn’t have to worry that a medical student will perform a pelvic exam without your consent.

But in Michigan, no state law forbids a medical student to perform such an exam for educational purposes, regardless of your knowledge, consent and the exam’s relevance to the surgery.

Since 2019, informed consent bills have been introduced in the Michigan Legislature four times by both Democratic and Republican policymakers. Although informed consent is a nonpartisan issue with broad support from health care professionals, none of these bills passed.

Michigan Senate Bills 475 and 476 were introduced in July, and referred to the chamber’s committee on health policy. The bills would mandate written informed consent for pelvic, vaginal, rectal and prostate

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