In clinical medicine, a chaperone is a person who serves as a witness for both a patient and a medical practitioner as a safeguard for both parties during a medical examination or procedure.
A chaperone may support the patient with reassurance and emotional support during a procedure or examination that the patient may find embarrassing or uncomfortable.
The chaperone may also provide practical help to the doctor during an examination or procedure.
In other clinical settings the chaperone could protect the doctor from physical attack.
A chaperone should not be someone with a close connection to either the doctor or the patient, such as a family member.