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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3754 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2142
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Daniel Cahill, (BY REQUEST)
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the presence of chaperones.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michael Drinan1/20/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3754 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2142
By Representative Cahill of Lynn (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
2142) of Michael Drinan relative to the presence of chaperones during certain medical
examinations. Public Health.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act relative to the presence of chaperones.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 M.G.L. c. 112, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding
2the following section:-
3 Section 275 – Presence of Chaperones
4 In all medical examinations, a physician or physician assistant shall provide notice to a
5patient, or any other person who is to be examined, of the right to have a chaperone present
6during breast and pelvic examinations of females and genitalia and rectal examinations of both
7males and females.
8 Notice to the patient is required and is satisfied by either written notice to the patient or
9posting notice in a manner in which the patient or caregiver can reasonably be made aware. In
10circumstances where the posting or written notice to the patient would not convey the right to
11have a chaperone present, the physician or physician assistant shall use another means to ensure 2 of 2
12that the patient or person to be examined understands his or her right to have a chaperone
13present.
14 A physician or physician assistant shall not be obligated to provide further care for a non-
15emergency immediate medical problem presented if the physician or physician assistant is unable
16to provide a requested chaperone acceptable to the patient. A physician or physician assistant
17shall not be obligated to provide further care for a non-emergency immediate medical problem
18presented if the patient refuses to have a chaperone present and it is the physician’s or physician
19assistant’s desire to have a chaperone present during the examination.