Clinicians' knowledge of informed consent.
OBJECTIVE
To audit doctors' knowledge of informed consent.


METHODS
10 consent scenarios with "true", "false", or "don't know" answers were completed by doctors who care for children at a large district general hospital. These questions tested clinicians' knowledge of who could give consent in different clinical situations.


METHODS
Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.


RESULTS
51 doctors participated (25 paediatricians and 26 other clinicians). Paediatricians scored higher than other clinicians (average correct response 69% v 49%). Only 36% (9/25) of paediatricians and 8% (2/26) of other clinicians realised that the biological father of a child born before 1 December 2003 needed a court order or a parental responsibility agreement to acquire parental responsibility, and thus be able to consent on behalf of his child, if he was not married to the child's mother. Non-paediatric clinicians were unsure or incorrect when tested on situations where people with parental responsibility do not agree, or where young people (<16 years), who are Fraser competent do not want to consult their parents. Most clinicians did not know that the parents of a 20-year-old man with severe learning difficulties are unable to consent to surgery on his behalf, and many non-paediatricians were unclear on who could give consent when a child lived with foster parents.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians who obtain consent for the treatment of children need to increase their knowledge on who is able to give informed consent to ensure best (legal and safe) practice.
Fisher-Jeffes
Lisa
L
Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath, UK. Fiona.finlay@banes-pct.nhs.uk
Barton
Charlotte
C
Finlay
Fiona
F
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics* / Q000523:psychology; D007872:Legal Guardians; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000941:ethics*; D016743:Mental Competency; D033242:Minors; D033282:Parental Consent / Q000941:ethics; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000941:ethics; D012015:Reference Standards