chaperone

A chaperone is a person who accompanies another individual to supervise conduct or provide protection, often in social or formal settings. The term derives from the French chaperon, originally meaning a hood or cloak that concealed and protected a person. In contemporary usage, chaperones may accompany youths on outings, accompany patients in medical facilities, or serve as escorts at formal events to help ensure propriety and safety.

Historically, chaperones were common in certain cultures to oversee interactions between unmarried women and men. While the practice has diminished in many places, chaperones are still used in some contexts such as schools, dance studios, or certain social events, and medical guidelines frequently reference the role as a safeguard for both parties.

In medicine, a chaperone is a third person present during examinations or procedures, particularly intimate ones. The presence of a chaperone aims to protect patients and clinicians from accusations of misconduct and to provide emotional support. Policies on chaperone use vary by country, institution, and clinical scenario, and patients are typically informed about their rights to have or decline a chaperone where appropriate.

In molecular biology, a chaperone refers to a protein that assists other proteins in folding correctly, avoiding misfolding and aggregation. Molecular chaperones include families such as Hsp70s, Hsp90s, and chaperonins like GroEL/GroES. These proteins are essential for maintaining proteome stability under stress and during normal cellular processes.

Chaperones also appear in laboratory and research settings as supervisors or guides for sensitive experiments, underscoring their broader role in safeguarding integrity and compliance.