How to Take Consent
Not yet clinically reviewed
This protocol was migrated from the earlier Pharmapedia and Ward Guide apps for educational use. Follow your hospital's own policies and consult seniors when in doubt.
In the usual setting, nobody allows a stranger to touch intentionally, let alone the parts that are sensitive, and unclothed, and touched with an intention to inflict trauma.
In fact, the difference between a criminal and a surgeon is that the latter inflicts a planned and calculated trauma to the patient with an intention to cause an ultimate benefit with the consent of the patient. We must involve the patient in everything we do to/for him by providing clear and crisp information.
The minimum information we should give is, the reason(s) for performing the procedure, the risks involved, success rate, major side effects of the procedure and a comparison with other available options including no treatment at all.
You must ensure that the information has been understood. Sometimes the patient and his family need to be informed more than once and in more than one way before one is confident that the information presented has reliably been understood.
All informed consents are written in the patient's chart. This should contain patient's details and registration number along with name of the procedure for which consent is being taken. Statement should mention that you (the doctor) have explained the procedure the reason for doing it, possible complications and available alternatives to the patient in a way that you think has been clearly understood.
Consent should also carry patient's signature or thumb imprint, or of the person who is giving consent on behalf of the patient.
Don't forget to write your name, designation, date and time at the end.