diff --git a/document_base.go b/document_base.go
index ad32bc5..3774b73 100644
--- a/document_base.go
+++ b/document_base.go
@@ -29,10 +29,18 @@ type DocumentBase struct {
 
 type m map[string]interface{}
 
+func (self *DocumentBase) GetCollection() *mgo.Collection {
+	return self.collection
+}
+
 func (self *DocumentBase) SetCollection(collection *mgo.Collection) {
 	self.collection = collection
 }
 
+func (self *DocumentBase) GetDocument() IDocumentBase {
+	return self.document
+}
+
 func (self *DocumentBase) SetDocument(document IDocumentBase) {
 	self.document = document
 }
@@ -113,6 +121,11 @@ func (self *DocumentBase) DefaultValidate() (bool, []error) {
 		fieldName := fieldType.Field(fieldIndex).Name
 		fieldElem := documentValue.Field(fieldIndex)
 
+		// Skip unexported fields as refection will throw a panic if trying to access its value
+		if field.PkgPath != "" && !field.Anonymous {
+			continue
+		}
+
 		// Get element of field by checking if pointer or copy
 		if fieldElem.Kind() == reflect.Ptr || fieldElem.Kind() == reflect.Interface {
 			fieldValue = fieldElem.Elem()