Massachusetts Senate bill establishes rules for medical chaperones and prohibits nonconsensual intimate examinations on unconscious patients

Original title: An Act relative to medical chaperones and medical exams

Last action · August 10, 2026: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care FinancingSponsors: Brendan Crighton and 12 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

The Massachusetts Senate committee on Public Health reported favorably on Senate Bill 3197, combining previous petitions to regulate medical chaperones during certain examinations and ban nonconsensual intimate exams on patients.

Why it matters

Sets new legal standards for patient consent and chaperone presence during sensitive medical examinations across the state, affecting medical providers and patients alike.

Background

Senate Bill 3197 was drafted following specific petitions from state senators addressing medical examination standards and patient consent. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

patients

Patients gain legal protections against nonconsensual intimate examinations while unconscious and have specific rules governing medical chaperones during exams.

Directly affected

medical providers

Medical providers must adhere to new statutory requirements regarding patient consent for intimate exams and the utilization of medical chaperones.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main goal of Senate Bill 3197?

The bill addresses the prohibition of nonconsensual on unconscious patients and establishes regulations for medical chaperones during exams.

Which committee reported on the bill?

The Joint Committee on Public Health reported favorably on the bill.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

3 actions

Aug 10, 2026SenateCommittee
Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
Aug 10, 2026Senate
New draft of S1485 and S1491
Aug 10, 2026Senate
Reported from the committee on Public Health

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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