Week 6 P&L

Question 1

What is the typical age of medical consent in Australia?

Answer 1

16

Question 2

Who may make decisions for children about medical treatment (broadly)?

Answer 2

• The child themself (if deemed Gillick competent)
• Parent/guardian
• Under certain circumstances, two-doctor consent
• Under certain circumstances, emergency consent

Question 3

When may a child be able to make their own medical decisions? Is parental power lost in these situations? Are there any exceptions, even if a kid is competent?

Answer 3

• When a child reaches sufficient maturity to fully understand proposed options, they may be deemed “Gillick” competent
• Parental power is not fully lost until age of consent, but it wanes over time as the child matures (just like in real life)
• In circumstances where the kid is choosing their own death/severe harm (e.g. AC cured from Ewing Sarcoma by God), they’re unlikely to be let through the courts

Question 4

Under what circumstances can emergency treatment be provided to children without consent?

Answer 4

• Incapable of consenting
• Iminent risk to life/health (reactive, not preventative etc)

Question 5

Draw a link between a human rights approach to healthcare and inclusive language

Answer 5

The human rights approach to medicine acknowledges that each patient is, first and foremost, a human being with human rights. By using inclusive language, healthcare providers stop any other social or cultural identities from impinging upon these fundamental rights.

Question 6

What are the guidelines around inclusive language for neurodiverse people? What does “neurodiverse” ene mean?

Answer 6

• “Neurodiverse” is a term that’s meant to encompass the different ways peoples’ brains function (so it ultimately has no meaning)
• It includes autism, but also other differences such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia etc
• Some people may not choose to identify as neurodiverse, and instead perefer ‘autism’ or ‘an autistic person’ (although you aren’t allowed to say ‘a disabled person’)

Question 7

What is open disclosure? What are the principles?

Answer 7

• Open disclosure is the process of openly and empathetically communicating with patients and their families when medical error occurs, including discussing the implications of the error
• Principles are sincere apology, clear explanation, confidentiality, openness and timeliness, and integrated clinical risk management in response to error

Question 8

What are some strategies for coping with medical errors that effect your patients?

Answer 8

• Seek advice from/debrief with a senior colleague
• Reflective practice
• Utilise institutional resources
• Personal coping mechanisms (exercise, reading, friends)

Question 9

What are the responsibilities of a medical student when medical error occurs?

Answer 9

• Immediate response/preserve patient safety
• Report the incident
• Open disclosure
• Reflective practice/opportunity for improvement