title: Informed consent for emergency surgery in infants and children.
abstract: The informed consent process for emergency surgery in children poses a challenge for pediatric surgeons because the child and his/her surrogates (usually parents) must make medical decisions in a relatively short period. The unique circumstances of a surgical emergency create potential barriers to achieving the central goals of the informed consent process, respect for patient autonomy and beneficence. The purpose of this review is to provide a practical guide for pediatric surgeons on the informed consent process as it applies to emergency surgery in pediatric patients. We will also discuss innovative methods of preoperative education that can be adopted in the emergency setting and highlight areas in which further research might help to improve this important aspect of surgical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Columbus Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA. nwomehbe@chi.osu.edu
authors.forename: Benedict C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Nwomeh
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: Donna A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Caniano
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kelleher
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000941:ethics; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D013502:General Surgery / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D045822:Intestinal Volvulus / Q000601:surgery; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence