Nurses condemn examinations

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 5

Nurses condemn examinations

By I

SARAH SANDS

in Wellington Internal examinations performed without consent on anaesthetised patients have been condemned by the New Zealand Nurses’ Association. The association resolved at its annual conference in Wellington yesterday to condemn “the violation of women’s rights" that occurred when the examinatons were made without the informed consent or knowledge of the women. The resolution called for nurses to ensure that the association’s "Patients’ Code of Rights and Responsibilities” was upheld. The code, an association policy document, says that a patient, before being asked to consent, has a right to clear, complete and accurate in-

formation about the nature and purpose of any proposed examination, test or treatment and whether it is for research, education or treatment The patient also has a right to refuse any test examination or treatment (unless of the type imposed by statute) and such a refusal should not render the patient liable to be discharged. Ms Joy Bickley, a spokeswoman for the feminist nurses* group, said the resolution was in response to comments by a spokesman for the National Women’s Hospital ethics committee that women had known for years that they were given vaginal examinations while under anaesthetic. Any claim that women implied consent by submitting to treatment at a public hopsital was arrogant and

incorrect, she said. When the resolution was proposed, delegates from the Napier branch of the association questioned whether It went far enough in ensuring that nurses did not condone the practice. Mrs Carol Mitchell, a northern regional officer of the association, said that she had been attending the inquiry into the treatment of cerivcal cancer at National Women’s Hospital. The association had made a submission to the inquiry. that had not yet been heard about the violation of patient’s rights, she said. “The whole basis of our submission is one of informed consent — I can assure you that there are theatre nurses who have objected to this practice and have taken steps to bring it before the commission,”