[Informed consent process: inpatients competency and admission clerks' performance in teaching hospitals in Kashan, Iran]

Patients' decision-making and legal capacity are major factors of informed consent considered as a basis of medical ethics. This study aimed to determine the undergoing surgery inpatients capacity to sign the consent form and admission clerks' performance in taking the form in teaching hospitals in Kashan. In this cross sectional study, 300 random inpatients and admission clerks in 3 hospitals were observed through a checklist to determine the patients' legal capacity to sign the consent form and admission clerks' performance. We analyzed the data through SPSS software with lambda[2] test. Only 55% patients singed themselves the consent form, however, 80% patients could sign it legally. In addition, 3.6% patients who signed the consent were not allowed to sign it. In addition, 59.3% surrogates were not allowed to sign the consent form. Admission clerks did not encourage 98.7% patients [surrogates] to read the consent form; also staffs did not give any opportunity to 75.3% patients [surrogates] for reading the form. Admission staffs did not control the legal relationship of surrogates who signed the consent form. Explaining the consent form to patients [surrogates] and more attention to legal capacity of consenter, also, documenting the policy to taking the consent form seems to be necessary

Safety requirements for health electronic file; comparison between selected countries

With increasing production of health information, information technologies have been used for better management and usage of such data. This enormous increase in gathering and storing of information and widespread accessibility also concerns individuals regarding privacy and security of information. This research is concerned with this issue due to decisions on establishing individual health electronic files in Iran. During this descriptive-comparative study, security requirements of electronic health files in Iran, England and Canada were reviewed and compared. Checklist was used for data collection. Data was collected from journal papers, and books accessed through libraries and other credible online sources between 1995-2006. Security requirements regarding health electronic file such as information security systems, safety of communication and operations management, access control were established in those countries except for Iran. There is no safety and security requirements in this regard in Iran. Security and safety of health electronic file is one of the basic requirements, which lacks in Iran. Due to recent interests in establishing health electronic file in Iran by Ministry of Health and Medical Education, it is necessary that such requirements been established by responsible bodies