Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

Consent guidance: Sharing information and discussing treatment options

  1. 7. The exchange of information between doctor and patient is central to good decision-making. How much information you share with patients will vary, depending on their individual circumstances. You should tailor your approach to discussions with patients according to:

    1. a. their needs, wishes and priorities
    2. b. their level of knowledge about, and understanding of, their condition, prognosis and the treatment options
    3. c. the nature of their condition
    4. d. the complexity of the treatment, and
    5. e. the nature and level of risk associated with the investigation or treatment. 
  2. 8. You should not make assumptions about:

    1. a. the information a patient might want or need
    2. b. the clinical or other factors a patient might consider significant, or
    3. c. a patient's level of knowledge or understanding of what is proposed.
  3. 9. You must give patients the information they want or need about:

    1. a. the diagnosis and prognosis
    2. b. any uncertainties about the diagnosis or prognosis, including options for further investigations
    3. c. options for treating or managing the condition, including the option not to treat
    4. d. the purpose of any proposed investigation or treatment and what it will involve
    5. e. the potential benefits, risks and burdens, and the likelihood of success, for each option; this should include information, if available, about whether the benefits or risks are affected by which organisation or doctor is chosen to provide care
    6. f. whether a proposed investigation or treatment is part of a research programme or is an innovative treatment designed specifically for their benefit4
    7. g. the people who will be mainly responsible for and involved in their care, what their roles are, and to what extent students may be involved
    8. h. their right to refuse to take part in teaching or research
    9. i. their right to seek a second opinion
    10. j. any bills they will have to pay
    11. k. any conflicts of interest that you, or your organisation, may have
    12. l. any treatments that you believe have greater potential benefit for the patient than those you or your organisation can offer. 
  4. 10. You should explore these matters with patients, listen to their concerns, ask for and respect their views, and encourage them to ask questions.
  5. 11. You should check whether patients have understood the information they have been given, and whether or not they would like more information before making a decision. You must make it clear that they can change their mind about a decision at any time.

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