Paediatrics: Consent for surgery

Consent for surgery

Consent for surgery: clinical practice

The best person to obtain consent is the surgeon performing the operation

Children

•   Whenever possible the procedure should be explained to the child in language that he/she can understand

•   Young children are not generally interested in alternative treatments and risk. They are reassured to know that their parents will be with them when they go off to sleep

•   Children are interested to know how long the operation will take, how they will feel afterwards, and how long they will get off school

Parents

Informed consent must be sought from the parents. This must include:

•   An explanation of the diagnosis and the proposed operation, along with alternative treatments, risks and benefits, and the likely outcomes

•   It is prudent to discuss potential complications and provide an estimate of risk. The risk of adverse reactions to general anaesthesia in fit, healthy children is between 1/10,000 and 1/100,000, which is comparable with the risk of injury crossing a road

Emergency

•   In an emergency it is justifiable to treat without parental consent

•   It must, however, be documented clearly that the child’s life is in danger and that attempts have been made to contact the parents

•   Ensure that entries in the records are signed, timed, and dated

Verbal consent from the parents is acceptable in an emergency and this should be recorded on the consent form