Consent Flashcards
Why is consent needed?
Make actions legally and ethically permissible
To avoid a battery charge
Autonomy =
Why is it important to respect autonomy?
Personal autonomy is self-rule free from controlling interference and limitations
Must respect it to respect the rights and interests of patients
What do you need consent for in healthcare?
EVERYTHING
Treatment, investigation, examination, disclosure of information, research, education
What is battery?
Touching/performing things without consent (patient doesn’t need to be harmed for a battery charge)
Is written consent a form of consent?
No, it is supporting evidence
Where can you go for guidance on consent?
GMC consent: patients and doctors making decisions together
Department of Health reference guide to consent
What are the 3 basic elements of consent?
Competence/capacity
Information
Voluntariness (free from coercion)
You must work on the assumption that everyone has capacity - what does it mean?
Able to make a specific decision at a specific moment in time - will be decision and time dependent
What are the 4 key components of capacity? (ie someone lacks capacity when they’re unable to…)
Understand information given to them
Retain information long enough to make a decision
Use/weigh up information as part of decision making process
Communicate decision effectively
What are the two broad types of consent?
Explicit
Implicit
How much information should be given for a patient to make an INFORMED decision?
Enough - too much can sometimes be pointless
Dr must not withhold information they believe to be crucial to influence decision
Diagnosis, prognosis, potential risks, include decision not to treat
Why is it important that the consent decision is voluntary?
Explicit coercion
Implicit coercion
Family pressure
Power differentials in doctor/patient relationship
May be under pressure by insurance/employer
What are different forms of consent?
Implied consent via compliance (eg rolling up arm to have bp taken) Oral consent (appropriate for low risk treatments) Written consent (complex treatments)
Why can written consent forms not necessarily mean consent is valid?
May be signed by someone lacking capacity
May not have given consent voluntary
Not enough information given
What are some potential obstacles to informed consent?
Poor information/time pressure when giving information
Being rushed to make a decision
Being pressurised to making particular decisions by third parties (need to talk to patient alone)
