The American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) has announced a partnership with the documentary At Your Cervix which spotlights ethical practices in gynecological education. This film honor the legacy of Dr. Lila Wallis, a former AMWA president and a pioneer in women’s health care.
At Your Cervix is a groundbreaking film that exposes the often-overlooked practice of performing pelvic exams for medical education on unconscious patients without their consent. The documentary not only sheds light on this unethical training method but also presents empowering solutions to revolutionize how pelvic exams are taught in medical schools and clinics across the country.
Dr. Lila Wallis, who served as AMWA president from 1988 to 1989, was instrumental in developing ethical approaches to gynecological education. In 1979, she established the Teaching Associates Program at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, which involved trained individuals guiding medical students to perform pelvic and breast exams sensitively and painlessly. This method became the nationally accepted model in medical schools throughout the United States.
AMWA’s collaboration with At Your Cervix includes hosting a virtual, on-demand screening from April 23-May 1 during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Week to educate medical professionals and the public about the importance of informed consent and patient autonomy. There will be a virtual event on April 30 with a panel of experts.
