Psychiatrists' documentation of informed consent.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to determine current attitudes and behaviour toward informed consent for antipsychotic medication and documentation of the informed consent process in patient charts.


METHODS
Thirty psychiatrists treating a minimum of 10 patients on antipsychotic medication were selected from teaching and nonteaching hospitals. Clinicians completed questionnaires on their behaviour and attitudes regarding documentation of informed consent and antipsychotic medication. Physicians' charts were reviewed to ascertain documentation.


RESULTS
Psychiatrists reported sometimes documenting the informed consent process. The chart review revealed that, on average, each psychiatrist had documentation in 23% of charts. Physicians who either were affiliated with a teaching hospital or spent more time reading medical journals were more likely to document the informed consent process.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians who use antipsychotic medication as a treatment in their practice are not routinely documenting the informed consent process in patient records. Physicians should pay more attention to this aspect of record keeping because it is their only record of the consent process.
Schachter
D
D
Department of Psychiatry and Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Clarke Division, Ontario.
Kleinman
I
I
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents