Current practice for obtaining consent in UK neonatal units
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Updated: Aug 26, 2026

Electrophysiological Measurements and Analysis of Nociception in Human Infants
Published on: December 20, 2011
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.
Abstract:
Working practice in neonatal units, like other medical and surgical specialties, is undergoing drastic changes to incorporate current legal and ethical requirements. We surveyed the current working practices of 60 neonatal units in this country. Consent appeared to be implied for routine procedures. Variable rates of consent were reported for specialised interventions and the surgical team was consistently involved in obtaining consent for all surgical procedures. There is great variation in practices for seeking consent in neonatal units in this country.
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