KU> MS>     Numerous parents in East Stroudsberg, Pennsylvania are irate
KU> MS>over their public school system having done gynecological exams on
KU> MS>their 6th-grade daughters at school without parental permission or
KU> MS>even telling parents such exams were being done as part of a state
KU> MS>policy of requiring all 6th grade students to have physicals.
KU> MS>     According to accounts on other echoes, the girls were not
KU> MS>allowed to call their parents before the exam...nor to refuse it.
KU> MS>Such accounts also said the girls were physically blocked from
KU> MS>leaving the group waiting to be examined.  They also say that a
KU> MS>school-provided advance explanation to parents never mentioned 
KU> that
KU> MS>the physical would include a gynecological exam,
KU> MS>     Does anyone have any opinion on:
KU> MS>          1) Was "informed consent" obtained?
KU>         First of all read the statute and see what it says... then.
KU> ***"Secondly, even if consent of some sort is established, a further
KU> question is whether the one consenting had a full understanding and
KU> knowledge regarding the nature and extent of the treatment that was, 
KU> in
KU> fact, rendered."
    Which was lacking in East Stroudsberg, since the parental-notification 
slip never mentioned that the phsyical would include a gynecological exam.
KU>         "Even when written consent is obtained, subsequent proof by
KU> the patient that he or she lacked the knowledge and understanding of
KU> what in fact took place will negate the consent. Hence one should 
KU> never
KU> use a written consent purporting in very general language to 
KU> authorize
KU> the surgeon or doctor to do any procedure deemed necessary as a 
KU> matter
KU> of professional judgement."
    Which was the variety of notification slip used.
KU> MS>          4) Are gynecological exams a normal part of at-school
KU> MS>               physicals?
KU> 
KU>         Don't know.
    A nurse said "no".
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