Privacy, Consent and Chaperone in Healthcare Practice

Respect for privacy, valid consent, and appropriate use of chaperones are fundamental to safe, ethical, and professional healthcare practice in New Zealand. Patients trust healthcare professionals with highly sensitive personal information, intimate examinations, and important decisions about their bodies and health. When these expectations are not met, the consequences can include patient distress, loss of trust, complaints, and regulatory investigation.

This course explores privacy, consent, and chaperone use not as isolated legal concepts, but as interconnected professional responsibilities that underpin patient dignity, autonomy, and safety. It focuses on practical application in everyday clinical settings, including general practice, hospitals, community care, aged care, and private practice.

Designed for doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, pharmacists, and other regulated practitioners, this course is particularly relevant for those responding to complaints, boundary concerns, or fitness-to-practise processes. It aligns with professional expectations in New Zealand, including guidance from the Medical Council of New Zealand, and supports reflective, ethical, and patient-centred care.