The law is about pelvic exams THAT ARE NOT WARRANTED. It happened to me at 17 in an ED. I was awake, I said "no" over and over, but I couldn't scream or fight back because I was weak from hemmoraghing. I was told they could do whatever they wanted b/c it was a teaching hospital. (1/2)
Time was taken away from treating my life-threatening condition to "teach" an intern how to violate a child's sense of safety and create horrible, unwarranted pain without a conscience. I was so ashamed and violated that I didn't tell anyone until two decades later. I SAID, "NO!" REPEATEDLY.
There needs to be differentiation between truly emergent situations that warrant a pelvic exam and those that aren’t warranted. I am sorry that you had such a negative experience. Hopefully the courts could get you the justice you deserve.
Thank you so much for your kindness, Jean! The courts couldn't get justice for me then, but with laws like this one in more states, they can protect future girls and women from my experience.