Physician's perspectives about consent in medical practice a questionnaire based study.

It is a principle recognised not only by our own but by other legal systems that ignorance of the law is no excuse for violating it. Obtaining informed consent is act like a shield to protect a medical practitioner from litigation suits and claims and also help in maintaining autonomy of the patient. With this background, the study was aimed to assess knowledge and various other perspectives of medical fraternity regarding some aspects of consent. A cross sectional survey was conducted at Pramukhswami Medial College, Karamsad during the year 2009. Total 150 physicians in the institute were given questionnaire, asking for information about their knowledge & level of satisfaction. Out of which 117 physicians have responded. 68.42% physicians felt satisfied about their knowledge of consent in medical practice but 76.31% physicians responded that their knowledge about various aspects applicable to them is limited or nil. 54.39% physicians expressed that they knew validity of consent. 50% physicians were not clear what to do if relatives deny for giving consent in emergency situation. Medical practitioner should upgrade their knowledge regarding medical jurisprudence and legal medicine to avoid any litigation, by regular medicolegal training programmes.

Age of consent in medical profession: A food for thought.

The concept of ‘consent’ comes from the ethical issue of respect for individual dignity as well as right to self determination. Indian Constitution covers issue of consent under Article 21 dealing with right to life with dignity. In law, the tort of battery is defined as ‘Application of force to the person of another without lawful justification’ and there in lies the essence of requirement of consent for any medical treatment. Consent has been defined to mean “voluntary agreement, compliance, or permission for a specified act or purpose”. [1] This paper deals with review of literature on the issue of ‘age of consent’ in medical profession, Civil and Criminal Laws in India, judicial pronouncements, medical literature, etc. some textbooks mentioned age of consent as 12 years and others 18 years, while others used the words like: major, adult, minor, child and guardian, etc. author has made a sincere effort to reach at a consensus about the age of consent in medical profession.

Consentimiento informado en niños y jóvenes. Una introducción / Informed Consent in children and young people. An Introduction

Se pretende aquí dar un vistazo general a los aspectos éticos del examen y manejo de los menores en relación a su participación en la toma de decisiones : se abordan los aspectos de mayor interés, consentimiento y rechazo en cuanto a brindar servicios de salud a niños y adolescentes. Por consiguiente se discutirá más precisamente la situación controversial en la que se presenta un choque de opiniones acerca del tratamiento en menores como por ejemplo el hacérles exámenes médicos. Finalmente se aborda el tópico del consentimiento en el contexto de la investigación clínica.

Recien nacidos y consentimiento delegado: la voz de los que no tienen voz / Newborn and delegate consent: the voice of the voiceless

Los profesionales de la salud que trabajan en las unidades de cuidados intensivos neonatales (UCIN) deben resolver situaciones dificiles respecto a la asignación de recursos escasos en medicina intensiva, a la toma de decisiones éticas sobra la oportunidad de tratar y con qué propósito a los menores seriamente enfermos, cuestión espinosa de este artículo: quién toma las decisiones en nombre del pequeño y asumirá la responsabilidad por ellas?? Consentimiento delegado en caso de neonatos.