INFORMED CONSENT Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is informed consent?
The right of every patient to make an informed decision about whether to accept or refuse treatments that are offered to them.
Why is informed consent important?
- Respects patients’ autonomy
- Mana Motuhake
- Prevents harms, promotes benefits
- Builds trust
- It’s a legal requirement
What are the rights outlined in the Code of Patients’ Rights regarding informed consent?
- Right to effective communication
- Right to be Fully Informed
- Right to Make an Informed Choice and Give Informed Consent
What are the criteria for informed consent based on Beauchamp and Childress Principles of Biomedical Ethics?
- Disclosure of information
- Comprehension of information
- Competence to decide
- Voluntariness of decision
What types of information should be disclosed to the patient in gaining informed consent?
- Why treatment is necessary
- Benefits
- Risks
- Side effects
- Costs
- Expected timeframe
- Possible alternatives
- Notification of participation in teaching or research
- Recommendation if asked
When is informed consent required to be in writing?
- Participation in research
- Experimental procedure
- Under general anaesthetic
- Significant risk of adverse effects
What is ‘competence’ in the context of informed consent?
The patient’s ability to make the necessary decision.
What factors may make a patient unable to make a decision?
- Unconsciousness
- Intoxication
- Immaturity
- Cognitive impairment
- Brain injury
- Acute psychiatric condition
What should be done if a patient is not competent to make a decision?
- Parents make decisions for children
- Court appoints a Welfare Guardian
- Patient appoints an Enduring Power of Attorney
- Patient issues advance directives
What does ‘voluntariness’ refer to in informed consent?
The opportunity to make a decision free from manipulation, pressure, or coercion.
What factors may affect the voluntariness of a decision?
- The practitioner
- Family or friends
- Time available
- Undue threats or incentives
True or False: Informed consent is viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event.
True
What is the importance of the doctor-patient relationship in informed consent?
It is a partnership based on mutual commitment to the patient’s welfare.
What does ‘disclosure’ refer to in informed consent?
The provision of information to the patient.
Fill in the blank: Informed consent requires that the patient be ________ to make a decision.
[competent]
What are the two key factors in enabling comprehension of information?
- How the information is presented
- The receptivity and understanding of the patient
What should doctors do in cases where a patient is agitated and refusing treatment?
Assess the patient’s understanding and decision-making capacity while ensuring their safety.
What is the reasonable patient standard?
When the reasonable patient thinks the information provided is sufficient.
