Echo etiquette (etiquette-based medicine)

• If the echocardiographer is a female and the patient has come to her for an echo, there is an implied consent.
• If the echocardiographer is a female and the patient is a referred patient on her name, there is an implied consent.
• If the echocardiographer is a female and the patient is a referred patient by the hospital, then she must explain the procedure, including exposure of the relevant portions of the chest, and ensure privacy and absence of male members in the room.
• If the echocardiographer is a male and the patient has come to him for an echo or referred to him by name, there is an implied consent but he must maintain privacy and ensure presence of a female member in the room.
• If the echocardiographer is a male and a patient comes to him for an echo, he must take an informed consent, ensure privacy and presence of a female member in the room.
• Never touch the skin of the chest area with fingers. Always apply jelly with the bottle knob.