Informed Consent in Healthcare Discussion and Responses

Informed Consent in Healthcare Discussion and Responses essay assignment

Informed Consent in Healthcare Discussion and Responses essay assignment

Introduction

The Saudi Guidelines for Informed Consent emanates from an initiative adopted by the Patient Experience Center at the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Saudi Patient Safety Center approved by the Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, and participation of a group of physicians, health practitioners and administrators who have the experience in health care, patient rights and Sharia issues related to the informed consent  (Abolfotouh, et al., 2012).

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The patient’s condition, eligibility, and ability to give consent at the time is taken into consideration, or if there is a medical excuse, which may require patient’s representative or not. In all conditions, the patient’s interest always comes first. Efforts and alternatives, if any, are made available to the patient to alleviate their suffering, and the opportunity for him to choose with conviction and transparency, which helps -God willing – providing smooth healthcare and raise the satisfaction level of the patient and their family while allowing them to participate in the treatment planning as recommended in the latest global healthcare approaches. This guideline also provides a comprehensive and simple reference that can be learned easily to tackle complex medical practice issues (Abolfotouh, et al., 2012).

Example where providers used informed consent to improve safety and quality outcomes

Clinical Scenario Mr. Mohammed Almishal is a 50-year-old gentleman who presented to the Endoscopy Suite for colonoscopy screening. The nurse brought him some papers to sign before the procedure. His Gastroenterologist came in to greet him while he was waiting to be moved into the endoscopy room. “Anything I need to worry about Doc?” asked Mr. Almishal. “It will be a straightforward procedure” answered the Gastroenterologist. Mr. Almishal underwent the colonoscopy where a polyp was removed from the sigmoid colon. The procedure lasted for 15 minutes, after which the patient was moved into the recovery room. Two hours later, the patient was discharged to go home. That evening, Mr. Almishal did not feel well and was complaining of abdominal pain. At first, he told himself that this was probably gas pain from having the colonoscopy but that night, his pain continued to get worse and eventually he went to the Emergency Department. He underwent some blood work, abdominal and chest X-rays. The emergency room (ER) doctor came to him with a concerned look on his face. “There is free air under your diaphragm sir. You may have a perforated colon” said the ER doctor. “Perforated colon? Why did anyone not tell me this could happen?” shouted Mr. Almishal. “It says here they told you” answered the ER doctor, while browsing through Mr. Almishal’s medical records. “Have a look here. Isn’t this your signature? It shows here that you signed the informed consent which mentions bleeding and perforation as possible complications” said the ER doctor. “Informed consent? I am sure no one informed me about a possible hole in my colon, otherwise I would have not agreed to have the procedure done. After all, this was only a screening procedure!” said Mr. Almishal.

Many invasive procedures have the potential to cause harm to patients. Harm could come in different shapes and forms, whether physical, emotional, or psychosocial. To help minimize any harm caused by invasive procedures, it is essential that the person doing the procedure adheres to the following: Informed consent: A proper informed consent should have the following components: The reason for doing the procedure (indications), explanation of the procedure, possible complications, and presence or absence of alternatives to the procedure (Alkabba, et al., 2012).

Why Is Informed Consent Important in Healthcare?

No one can guarantee positive outcomes in healthcare settings, but informed consent at least ensures patients understand the risks they undertake with treatment. It is also the law. When patients agree to a treatment, they must sign paperwork indicating they understand the risks and agreeing doctors can take specific life-saving measures if needed (Marrone, S. R., 2016).

Informed consent creates trust between doctor and patient by ensuring good understanding. It also reduces the risk for both patient and doctor. With excellent communication about risks and options, patients can make choices which are best for them and physicians face less risk of legal action (Marrone, S. R., 2016).

To work effectively, informed consent must allow patients to make the decisions right for them. This means medical professionals must offer enough information to patients to enable them to make a choice and provide enough time, where possible, so patients don’t feel pressured. Pain, medication and some medical conditions can affect judgment and understanding, so doctors must consider these factors when seeking consent from a patient (Marrone, S. R., 2016).

References:

Abolfotouh, M. A., & Adlan, A. A. (2012). Quality of informed consent for invasive procedures in central Saudi Arabia. International journal of general medicine, 5, 269.

Alkabba, A. F., Hussein, G. M., Albar, A. A., Bahnassy, A. A., & Qadi, M. (2012). The major medical ethical challenges facing the public and healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Family and Community Medicine, 19(1), 1.

Marrone, S. R. (2016). Informed consent examined within the context of culturally congruent care: An interprofessional perspective. Journal of Transcultural