Page 96 - Registrar Orientation Manual 2016

Document reference:
1969
Effective date:
30 Mar 2010
Expiry date:
01 Jun 2013
Page:
4 of 24
Title:
Informed consent
Type:
Policy
Version:
03
Authorising initials:
Appendix A
1. Whatisinformedconsent?
1.1. Obtaining informed consent
 There are three key components of informed consent:
- Competence: the individual must be capable of understanding the essential nature of their condition along with the treatment
proposed, its intended benefits, risks and possible side effects;
- Sufficient information: the individual has the information that a
reasonable person in their position would expect to have;
- Voluntary choice: the individual must be allowed to make a decision (either to accept or decline healthcare services)
freely, without any form of coercion or constraint.
 Informed consent may be given verbally or in writing. However, written consent is required in some circumstances under the Code of Rights (see Section 2.1 below).
 Informed consent must be for the particular service being provided.
 Patients must be informed of their right to decide for themselves whether to consent, or to refuse to consent, to treatment. There are certain exceptions to this general principle which are set out in Appendices B,5 and B,6.
 The process of seeking to obtain informed consent involves the following steps. The person(s) obtaining informed consent must:
- establish a supportive environment which encourages open,
honest and full communication; and
- give sufficient information to allow the patient to make an
informed choice, taking into account the patient’s cultural needs e.g. information should be provided using language and examples the patient can understand (Māori Patient Advocates or interpreters may be of assistance); and
- allow time for the patient to ask questions and digest the information. In some cases this may involve giving the patient an opportunity to “sleep on it” and respond at a later time; and
- obtain the patient’s (or their legally authorised representative’s) verbal consent and document this in the patient’s clinical record; and if required:
- obtain the patient’s (or their legally authorised representative’s) written consent using an approved Waikato DHB Consent form.
 If there is no one with a legal right to give consent on behalf of the incompetent patient, then Right 7(4) of the Code of Rights may apply.
 The process of obtaining informed consent may occur during one or more appointments with the patient.
 To facilitate this process, the relevant health professional(s) must, wherever practicable:
- make every effort to ensure the privacy of discussions with the