I have been attending medical audit conferences for years. Lately, I’m hearing this more often – “The patient (or the relative) did not give consent for the procedure.” I’m wondering why. I often ask, “What exactly did you tell the patient?” What one says and how one says it, matters of course!
The following are the required elements for documentation:
- The nature of the procedure
- The risks and benefits and the procedure
- Reasonable alternatives
- Risks and benefits of alternatives
- Assessment of the patient’s understanding of elements 1 through 4.
The following are helpful questions to keep in mind.
- What would this patient need to know and understand to make an informed decision?
- What would the average patient need to know to be an informed participant in the decision?
- What would a typical physician say about this procedure?
So let’s discuss this further at the #HealthXPH tweet chat 9 pm Manila time 24 Aug 2024.
T1. Share tips on how you seek consent for medical procedures from patients. As a patient, share what information you usually ask for before giving consent.
T2. What are the common reasons why patients refuse to give consent?
T3. How do you handle it when a patient refuses to give consent? As a patient, how did your doctor react when you refused consent?