INVASIVE BODILY EXAMINATIONS        S.B. 475 & 476:

        SUMMARY OF BILL

        REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bills 475 and 476 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor: Senator Paul Wojno (S.B. 475)

              Senator Sylvia Santana (S.B. 476)

Committee: Health Policy

 

 

CONTENT

 

Senate Bill 475 would amend Part 161 (General Provisions) of the Public Health Code to prohibit a licensee, registrant, or medical student from performing an invasive bodily examination on an anesthetized or unconscious patient unless specified requirements were met.

 

Senate Bill 476 would amend Part 161 of the Public Health Code to define "invasive bodily examination" as a pelvic, vaginal, rectal, or prostate examination.

 

The bills are tie-barred.

 

Proposed MCL 333.16280 (S.B. 475)

MCL 333.16105 & 333.16106 (S.B. 476)        

 

BRIEF RATIONALE

 

The practice of performing invasive examinations on anesthetized patients without informed consent has raised concerns about whether those exams are a violation of a person's bodily autonomy. According to testimony, many medical students who conducted pelvic exams on anesthetized patients and who did not ask for informed consent before the exam were uncomfortable with their medical school's practices. It has been suggested that informed consent be required before such an examination to guarantee a patient's right to bodily autonomy.

 

PREVIOUS LEGISLATION

(This section does not provide a comprehensive account of previous legislative efforts on this subject matter.)

 

Senate Bills 475 and 476 are reintroductions of Senate Bills 44 and 45 from the 2023-2024 Legislative Session, respectively. Senate Bills 44 and 45 passed the Senate and were referred to the House Committee on Health Policy but saw no further action.

 

        Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

 

Date Completed: 11-13-25        Fiscal Analyst: Nathan Leaman

 

 

 

floor\sb475                Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.