Santa's little helpers: a novel approach to developing patient information leaflets

BMJ (Clinical research ed.) Vol. 359,  (December 13, 2017): j5565. 

Obtaining valid consent before any intervention is a legal and ethical principle that underpins patient autonomy. For consent to be valid, the patient must have received sufficient information and understood the nature and purpose of the procedure. Emphasis is placed on providing information in a variety of formats that is comprehensible and free from technical jargon, which the average patient cannot reasonably be expected to understand.

One solution to increasing patient understanding and capacity for self determination is using patient information leaflets. Time constraints on clinicians and the growing importance of providing patient information have made patient leaflets a popular adjunct to verbal communication, particularly where consent is required. Studies have shown that patient satisfaction correlates strongly with the amount of information received

UHCW Research: Catrin Wigley

Introducing 'opt-out' consent for organ and tissue donation in England

This DH consultation seeks views on proposed plans to make it easier for people to give consent to be an organ donor.

The consultation is specifically seeking input on how much input families have in deceased relative's donation decisions, whether exemptions to opting out is needed and how these proposals may affect certain groups depending on age, disability, race or faith. The consultation closes on 6 March 2018.

Revised guidance on confidentiality published

The HCPC has relaunched its Guidance on confidentiality, which provides advice for registrants on how they should handle and share information about service users.

Diagnostic Laparoscopy

Consent advice No. 2 from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.  This paper provides advice for clinicians in obtaining the consent of women undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy.

SafeguardingPlus - new information for anaesthetists

The Royal College of Anaesthetists has launched SafeguardingPlus – a new resource of peer-reviewed education and information to provide advice for anaesthetists on how to identify, manage and prevent harm in patients and improve understanding of consent and ethical issues.

Liposuction for chronic lymphoedema [IPG588]

Liposuction for chronic lymphoedema Current evidence on the safety and efficacy of liposuction for chronic lymphoedema is adequate to support the use of this procedure provided that standard arrangements are in place for clinical governance, consent and audit.

Patient selection should only be done by a multidisciplinary team as part of a lymphoedema service.

Principles of Consent Guidance for nursing staff

This RCN document aims to provide information to registered nurses and other nursing staff to guide their practice around consent.

GOC publishes guidance on gaining valid consent

The General Optical Council (GOC) has published guidance on obtaining valid consent to assist registrants in meeting its standards of practice.

Caring for patients who refuse blood: A Guide to Good Practice for the Surgical Management of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Other Patients Who Decline Transfusion

This document from the Royal College of Surgeons provides guidance on the surgical management of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other patients who withhold consent to blood transfusion. It takes into account and expands on the principles set out in Good Surgical Practice (RCS, 2014), Consent: Supported Decision-Making – A Guide to Good Practice (RCS, 2016) as well as guidance from the GMC and NICE, to enable surgeons and their teams to provide high-quality care to Jehovah’s Witness and other patients who refuse blood transfusion while respecting their right to make autonomous decisions about treatment.

Consent: Supported Decision-Making - a good practice guide

The Royal College of Surgeons has developed guidance on consent that sets out the principles for working with patients through a process of supported decision-making. It includes the full implications of the new legal context, and provides guidance on the discussion with the patient, the role of the consent form and how to document the consent process.

New draft guideline AAGBI: Consent for anaesthesia 2016 Comments invited from members

A new draft guideline on consent for anaesthesia is in its final draft stage and comments are invited from members. Please read the draft and submit comments toworkingparties@aagbi.org. All comments submitted will be considered before a final version is brought before the AAGBI Board for approval. 

The closing date for comment submission is 5pm on Wednesday 24 August 2016.

Needlestick injuries and blood-borne viruses: decisions about testing adults who lack the capacity to consent

This new guidance from the BMA provides advice on what to do in situations where the patient lacks the capacity to consent to testing for blood-borne viruses when a health professional has sustained needlestick injury.

New standards to keep your patient data secure

A new report published by the National Data Guardian sets out recommendations for how patient's health and care information should be used within the NHS.

'Review of Data Security, Consent and Opt-out', produced by the National Data Guardian Dame Fiona Caldicott, was commissioned by the Department of Health and received evidence from Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch about the public's views on consent and data security.

Diabetic Eye Screening: Consent And Cohort Management

This document provides guidance on patient consent and cohort management within the NHS diabetic eye screening programme. It includes information about the provision and management of information; consent for screening; and consent for use of information throughout the screening pathway.

Capacity and consent: tool for health professionals

The General Medical Council has launched an interactive online tool to help health professionals determine a patient's capacity to make a decision about their treatment. The tool draws on principles in GMC guidance and includes downloadable resources including guidance, a flowchart setting out all the steps in the tool, case studies and a record to help the health professional reflect on skills and understanding.