Policies

Consents
Purpose

The purpose of informed consent is to provide the patient or their authorized representative with the necessary information to make an informed decision about whether to proceed with a treatment.

Policy

The information provided to the patient or their authorized representative should include:

1. An explanation of the nature, purpose, benefits, and effects of the proposed treatment or procedure.
2. Alternative treatment options available.
3. The risks associated with the proposed treatment or procedure.
4. The comparative risks, benefits, and alternatives of performing the procedure at the centre instead of in a hospital.
5. The potential consequences of not receiving the proposed treatment or procedure.
6. The identity of the practitioner responsible for the treatment or procedure.

General Procedures

1. The surgeon is responsible for obtaining informed consent.
2. Except in life-threatening emergencies, the consent must be documented in the patient’s medical record.
3. The consent must be witnessed, dated, and signed by the practitioner and the patient, guardian, or authorized representative.
4. The consent can be obtained in the practitioner’s office or the pre-procedure area of the centre. A faxed, emailed, or real-time signature of the physician is acceptable.
5. The consent is valid for up to 120 days from the date it is signed by the patient, guardian, or authorized representative.
6. The consent form must be read to patients who are unable to read it themselves. The patient’s understanding must be confirmed and noted in their record.
7. Pre-procedure medications cannot be administered before the consent form is signed.
8. No patient shall be taken to the operating room without a fully executed consent form.
9. For blind or visually impaired patients, the consent form must be read aloud and signed by the patient and witnessed by two people.
10. For patients who do not understand the language of the consent form, it must be read to them by a person who speaks their language. This person’s identity and the reason must be noted on the form, and the patient’s signature must be witnessed by two people.

Next-of-Kin or Legal Guardian

1. The practitioner determines the patient’s competence. If deemed incompetent, the reasons must be documented in the patient’s record.
2. Competent patients have the right to refuse treatment and leave the center, even if this increases the risk of death, disability, or health impairment.
3. Except in emergencies, if an adult patient is incompetent, consent must be obtained from the legal guardian, holder of a general durable power of attorney, spouse, adult child, or other adult next of kin, in that order.
4. For minors (unless emancipated), consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian. For minors in foster care, consent must be obtained from the child’s Case Worker from Alberta’s Children and Family Services.

Consent for Anesthesia

1. The appropriate practitioner must obtain consent for anesthesia from the patient, parent, legal guardian, or authorized representative.
2. The practitioner must discuss the type of anesthesia, risks, benefits, and alternatives with the patient.
3. This discussion and the patient’s consent must be documented in the medical record by the practitioner who obtains the consent.

Consent in Emergency Situations

1. In emergencies, if no one authorized to give consent is immediately available, consent for the recommended procedure or treatment is implied.
2. An emergency is defined as a situation where immediate or imminent treatment is necessary to prevent jeopardizing the patient’s life, health, or safety, or to avoid disfigurement or impaired faculties.
3. Consent is also implied if there is a material and morbid change in the patient’s condition after a refusal of consent, and no other authorized person is available.

Valid Time Limits

Consent is valid for 120 days after being signed, dated, and witnessed.

Consent for Filming

1. Consent must be obtained from patients or their authorized representative for filming or recording for purposes other than identification, diagnosis, or treatment.
2. This consent should be obtained before the procedure whenever possible. If not obtained prior, the film or recording will remain with the centre until consent is obtained. If consent is not obtained, the film or recording will be destroyed or the patient removed from the footage.
3. Patients have the right to request that filming be stopped and to rescind their consent before the film is used.
4. Anyone involved in filming or recording must sign a confidentiality statement.