Right to an Observer
At Hackensack Meridian Health, we are committed to providing compassionate, respectful care. To ensure every patient feels safe, heard, and protected, you have the right to have an observer present or to decline one during your examination.
What to Expect During Your Physical Examination
Your healthcare provider’s goal is to assess your health safely, respectfully, and professionally. Your comfort, consent, and understanding are important throughout your care.
An observer is a trained, certified healthcare professional who will stay with you during your examination in clear sight to ensure a respectful and dignified examination.
A sensitive examination involves private or intimate areas of the body or situations where a patient may feel especially vulnerable, including examinations of the breast, pelvic area, genitalia, prostate, or rectum, or exams requiring undressing.
Sensitive examinations are performed only when medically appropriate and related to your care.
Common aspects of an examination may include:
- Discussing your medical history, concerns, or symptoms
- Checking vital signs
- Listening to the heart, lungs, neck, or abdomen
- Examining areas related to your concern
- Touching to feel for abnormalities (such as the neck, chest, or abdomen)
- Lightly holding, turning, or adjusting a body part during examination
- Tapping areas of the body to assess organ characteristics
You have the right to
- Understand the Exam: Providers should explain what will happen and why before it begins.
- Give or Refuse Consent: You can say yes, no or ask for alternatives at any time.
- An Observer: You have the right to an observer for any sensitive examination. A sensitive exam Involves private or intimate areas of the body or situations where a patient may feel especially vulnerable (for example: breast, pelvic, genital, prostate, rectal, or exams requiring undressing)
- Privacy and Dignity: Proper draping should be provided to minimize exposure during your examination as well as privacy when undressing.
- Ask Questions: You can ask questions about procedures, findings and next steps at any time.
- Stop the Exam: If something feels uncomfortable or unclear - you can always ask to stop the exam immediately.
- Respectful Treatment regardless of gender, age, race, background or identity.
If at any point in time during the examination you feel uncomfortable or confused you can ask to pause or stop the examination. You always have the right to report concerns without the fear of retaliation.
Recognizing Misconduct
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Any instance of a health care professional initiating sexual contact during an examination is highly inappropriate and a violation of acceptable behavior. Examples can include but are not limited to:
- Suggesting sensitive exams that are not in line with the reason for your visit
- Telling sexual or inappropriate jokes
- Lingering stares or glances, or making inappropriate comments about body parts
- Divulging information or asking about your love or sex life that is not consistent with medical necessity
- Offering gifts or favors
- Attempting to contact you for non-medical reasons or meet outside of the office
- Not allowing privacy during dressing or undressing
- Performing sensitive exams without gloves or medical need
- Touching in any way that seems sexual, such as groping
You can report a concern through
Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) Consumer Services:
848-888-4538 or consumer.services@hmhn.org
New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners
https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/sexual-misconduct-complaint
You can access support services by contacting
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
RAINN.org (Spanish: RAINN.org/es) - 24/7 online chat
National Sexual Assault Hotline
800-656-HOPE (4673)