Do you have to remove your gown for a physical exam?

Patients must remove outer clothing items and may need to remove their underwear for physical examinations, according to Mohawk Medical Center. In most cases, however, they do not need to remove hospital paper or cloth gowns, as hospitals and clinics provide the gowns specifically to cover the body.

Even when wearing a gown, a patient may have to expose the parts of the body under examination. For example, pelvic exams require patients to expose that part of the body, explains University of Utah Health Care. Patients can discuss their concerns about wearing hospital gowns with nurses or doctors, notes the San Diego Center for Spinal Disorders.