Bill Text: FL S0716 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Consent for Pelvic Examinations
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-23 - Chapter No. 2021-126 [S0716 Detail]
Download: Florida-2021-S0716-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Consent for Pelvic Examinations
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-23 - Chapter No. 2021-126 [S0716 Detail]
Download: Florida-2021-S0716-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2021 SB 716 By Senator Book 32-00225A-21 2021716__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to consent for pelvic examinations; 3 amending s. 456.51, F.S.; revising the definition of 4 the term “pelvic examination”; revising the 5 circumstances under which a pelvic examination may be 6 performed without written consent; authorizing written 7 consent for a pelvic examination to be obtained as a 8 part of a general consent form and to allow multiple 9 health care practitioners or students to perform the 10 examination; providing an effective date. 11 12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13 14 Section 1. Section 456.51, Florida Statutes, is amended to 15 read: 16 456.51 Consent for pelvic examinations.— 17 (1) As used in this section, the term “pelvic examination” 18 meansthe series of tasks that comprisean examination of the 19 organs of the female internal reproductive systemvagina,20cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, rectum, or external21pelvic tissue or organs using any combination of modalities,22which may include, but need not be limited to, the health care23provider’s gloved hand or instrumentation. 24 (2) A health care practitioner, a medical student, or any 25 other student receiving training as a health care practitioner 26 may not perform a pelvic examination on an anesthetized or 27 unconsciousapatient without the written consent of the patient 28 or the patient’s legal representativeexecuted specific to, and29expressly identifying, the pelvic examination, unless: 30 (a) A court orders performance of the pelvic examination 31 for the collection of evidence;or32 (b) The pelvic examination isimmediatelynecessary for the 33 provision of emergency services and care as defined in s. 34 395.002to avert a serious risk of imminent substantial and35irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of36the patient; or 37 (c) The pelvic examination is indicated in the standard of 38 care for a procedure to which the patient or the patient’s legal 39 representative has consented. 40 (3) Written consent for a pelvic examination may be 41 obtained as part of a general consent form if it is included as 42 its own provision. One written consent form may be used to 43 authorize multiple health care practitioners or students to 44 perform a pelvic examination. 45 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.