Pregnancy and Privacy in an Emergency Department: A Simulated Session

Abstract

The practice of emergency medicine requires that physicians make critical decisions under the pressures of both time and socially challenging situations. Ectopic pregnancy is one such scenario in which physicians must think and act quickly, while keeping in mind the complexities of discussing reproductive health issues in an environment where confidentiality is difficult to achieve. The following describes a simulation session in which learners are tasked with the integration of clinical decision-making and the maintenance of privacy and confidentiality.