A Survey of Hospital Practices Related to Pelvic and Rectal Examinations of Psychiatric Inpatients

Fifty-three inpatient units in Texas and Massachusetts—15 freestanding psychiatric hospitals and 38 units of general hospitals—responded to a survey to determine current practice in conducting pelvic and rectal examinations of psychiatric patients. Pelvic examinations were never done at 15 of the facilities (28 percent), and rectal examinations were never done at 12 (23 percent). The other facilities did these examinations selectively based on patients' clinical history. Because selective use of these examinations is consistent with recommendations of the American Psychiatric Association and because hospitals that conduct examination selectively have received approval by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, it appears that selective rather than routine pelvic and rectal examinations are now considered reasonable practice.