Lecture 7 Informed consent Informed Consent • Consent is your agreement موافقتكfor a doctor or healthcare professional to provide you with treatment, including any medical or surgical management, care, therapy, test or procedure Informed Consent • Informed Consent in healthcare means we give you clear and easy to understand information to help you make the right decision for your healthcare. • If there is problem in language there should be a professional interpreter Key points to remember about Informed Consent are: • doctor or healthcare professional must discuss treatment options with patients—encourage patient to ask questions if he or she don’t understand something • It’s patient’s decision to undergo a treatment or procedure • doctor or healthcare professional must have patient’s consent or refusal for each episode of treatment • The healthcare professionals must make a formal record of the agreed decision Key points to remember about Informed Consent are • It’s important to remember that different procedures involve different risks, and complications can be different for each treatment. • Ensure that is the patients are fully aware of the possible risks to help patients make an informed decision about having the treatment. When to obtain informed consent • We obtain consent before patient undergoing any treatment or procedure, except for life saving or emergency situations. • When we have to share medical information with patient’s family doctor from outside hospitals if patient have provided their details. • When patients refuse a treatment they previously consented to at any time. Types of consent • Implied consent –agreement is given by cooperating with a healthcare professional’s instructions for routine procedures. Examples of implied consent include a blood sample is to be obtained, take and swallow medication that is given to patient. Types of consent • Verbal consent –agreement is given verbally for a treatment or procedure that doesn’t carry a significant risk. • Written consent –agreement is given by signing a document for a treatment or procedure that is complex or carries a higher risk, for example major operation Treatment options • There are many things to consider when deciding about patients’ ongoing treatment. • Most conditions have more than one treatment option and each one may have different risks and expected outcomes. • It’s important to consider these risks and outcomes, as well as patient’s personal needs and needs of patient’s family when deciding on the best treatment option for him/her. Questions patients should be encouraged to ask before consent form • Why do patient think this procedure is right for him/her? • How many times have patient done this procedure? • What are the outcomes of the procedures patients have done? • How soon do patient need this treatment? • What can happen if don’t do anything? • How long does it take to recover from this treatment or procedure? • Do patient need to change his/ her lifestyle? Questions patients should be encouraged to ask before consent form • What can patient do to prepare for the treatment or procedure? • Is there a cost? • What other information can help patient make an informed decision? • Can patient has some time to discuss options with family and friends before he/she decide?
