Minister announces new health consent guidance

Health Minister, Des Browne today launched new guidance on the principle of consent to examination, treatment or care.

The guidance, aimed at health professionals, emphasises the rights of patients when giving their consent.

Launching the guidance, Mr Browne said: “This guidance is intended to ensure the importance of patient-focused consent, and to make certain that consent procedures reflect patient’s needs. The guidance also aims to improve both professionals and patients’ knowledge of the law.

“Guidance is given on the law for health and social care professionals when seeking consent for examination, treatment or care. The Good Practice in Consent Handbook contains an Implementation guide for health care professionals with a model policy for the HPSS on the organisational requirements to support good practice; guidance for good practice in consent when working with older people, people with learning disabilities and children and guides for adults, children and young people, relatives and carers, people with learning disabilities and parents on what they have a right to expect when they are asked to give consent.”

A Working Group set up by the Chief Medical Officer has developed guidance on consent to examination, treatment or care.

The aims of the guidance are to promote patient-centred consent, to ensure that the process of giving consent is focused on the rights of individuals and families, to ensure consent procedures reflect patients’ needs, to improve health and social care professionals’ knowledge of the law regarding consent and to develop documentation for the Health and Personal Social Services that supports good practice.

(MB)