Medico-legal

Common consent: a guide for doctors in training

If you’re a doctor in training, you may be asked to obtain consent for a procedure or perform one under supervision. This guide answers common questions about assessing capacity, discussing risks and alternatives, handling questions you cannot answer, explaining who will perform the procedure and documenting the patient’s decision.

Surgeon suspended over surgical errors, missed diagnoses and inadequate patient care

A general surgeon’s registration was suspended for 6 months after multiple adverse events. The tribunal was particularly concerned about the doctor’s failure to take appropriate steps to reduce risk, to provide appropriate follow-up care, or to fulfil their open disclosure obligations.

Landmark case confirms parental consent is not required for treatment of mature minors

Judge rules 15-year-old lacks sufficient maturity to decide on life-saving treatment

In a recent case considering children’s capacity to consent, the court found a 15-year-old lacked sufficient maturity to refuse life-saving treatment for leukaemia. Although she was intellectually capable of understanding the treatment, she was unable to overcome anger and frustration with her treating team to demonstrate she had capacity to weigh up the medical advice objectively.

Court rules on 17-year-old’s capacity to refuse lifesaving treatment

Although the court found a 17-year-old had capacity to make healthcare decisions, it concluded it was in the child’s best interest to order life-saving medical treatment even though the child refused it.

Consent in care: beyond the form - Measuring outcomes

This is a Measuring Outcomes activity (MO) to be completed after course RACGP #1684850/ACRRM #42991. In the webinar, we explored informed consent in clinical care, including capacity and mature minors, voluntariness, and managing patient expectations.

Consent in care: beyond the form

Informed patient consent is a fundamental professional, ethical, and legal obligation for all medical practitioners. Consent is important not just for procedures but for many aspects of clinical care. Using Avant data and case examples we discuss some of the key issues doctors face such as capacity, particularly for the mature minor. We also explored issues around what it means to give consent voluntarily and how the consent discussion is important when managing patient expectations.

Consent in everyday practice: reflections from a GP

Consent is embedded in everyday clinical care, often in conversations that become second nature. Dr Sally Parsons draws on three consultations and Avant’s claims insights to show why consent must be specific, voluntary, ongoing and clearly documented.