Informed consent: questionnaire survey of British otolaryngologists

This postal questionnaire of British otolaryngologists has shown that most strive to obtain true informed consent when recommending surgery. The consent form is usually signed on the ward or at a pre-admission clinic and witnessed by a house officer. One-third of house officers received no instructions about what to discuss at this time, however, most consultants keep some record of what was discussed. A quarter of surgeons use information sheets, those not using them are more likely to anticipate problems with their use. An assessment of which complications are usually discussed is given. Comparison with a similar study shows increased disclosure of complications, perhaps a more defensive approach in surgical practice is developing.