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Current practice for obtaining consent in UK neonatal units
Savitha Shenoy1, Carmel Archdeacon, Sailesh Kotecha
1Department of Clinical Standards and Monitoring, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK.
Bulletin of Medical Ethics
|February 27, 2004
Summary
Neonatal units show varied consent practices for procedures. Routine care implies consent, while specialized interventions and surgeries involve inconsistent consent-seeking approaches.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Medical Ethics
- Healthcare Law
Background:
- Neonatal care practices are evolving due to legal and ethical shifts.
- Standardizing consent procedures in neonatal units remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey and analyze current consent-seeking practices in neonatal units.
- To identify variations in consent procedures across different neonatal settings.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted across 60 neonatal units.
- Data on consent acquisition for routine and specialized procedures were collected.
Main Results:
- Implied consent is common for routine neonatal procedures.
- Significant variability exists in obtaining consent for specialized interventions.
- Surgical teams are consistently involved in consent for surgical procedures.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal units exhibit considerable diversity in their approaches to seeking patient consent.
- Further standardization may be needed to ensure consistent ethical and legal compliance.