Informed consent for medical student involvement in patient care: an updated consensus statement

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Ethics
• Patient Rights

Background:

• Patient consent for medical student involvement is a legal and ethical requirement in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Previous consensus statements and anecdotal evidence suggest current consent procedures are often substandard.
• Challenges in obtaining informed patient consent for student participation persist.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address persistent challenges in obtaining patient consent for medical student involvement in healthcare.
• To reaffirm and clarify existing cultural, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements for patient consent.
• To propose feasible methods for meeting these requirements in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing Aotearoa New Zealand law and Medical Council policy.
• Discussions and reflections among senior leaders of medical schools and ethics faculty (2020-2023).
• Engagement with key stakeholders to inform proposed responses.

Main Results:

• Identified ongoing issues with patient consent procedures for medical student involvement.
• Reaffirmed existing legal and ethical standards for patient consent.
• Developed an updated consensus statement outlining feasible approaches to meet these standards.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to patient consent requirements for medical student involvement is crucial for ethical, patient-centred care.
• The updated consensus statement provides guidance on meeting legal and ethical obligations.
• Continuous dialogue and stakeholder engagement are necessary to improve consent practices.