There's outrage in the medical community over revelations student doctors have been performing sensitive examinations without fully informed patient consent.

New research in today's New Zealand Medical Journal has revealed some Auckland University student doctors are performing sensitive examinations - without patients knowing they're still in training.

When they raised concerns, senior clinicians and supervisors responded by saying getting consent would take too long and was too difficult to explain to "uneducated" patients.

Medical Council chairman Andrew Connolly told Mike Hosking he's shocked at the news.

"Utterly unacceptable, and I utterly reject this business that supervisors don't have time. If they don't have, don't allow the students to be put in a position where they can breach the patient's rights."

Connolly says he's shocked some clinicians are flagrantly breaching what are unambiguous rules.

"A case like this came to the medical council, it would be treated extremely seriously. Let's be very clear; this is a breach of the law. This is a form of sexual assault, not to have consent to touch someone."

LISTEN TO ANDREW CONNOLLY TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE