Informed Consent Summary

648 Words2 Pages

Informed Consent Summary

What is Informed Consent
Osteopathic informed consent is the valid consent obtained in response to a proposed examination or treatment, after appropriate advice and information has been provided by the practitioner.
Consent cannot be categorised as informed if treatment is agreed to by the patient without detailing all the information regarding the nature of the treatment, the reasoning for its recommendation and other information they would regard as relevant to their decision, such as inherent risks of the treatment and alternate treatment options.
In order to provide informed consent a patient has a right to sufficient information for his/her understanding of:
1. the diagnosis and likely outcome (prognosis) of …show more content…

specific details of the treatment
6. any other options for treatment and their probability of success
7. cost of treatment
8. option to defer treatment
9. right to withdraw consent to treatment at any time.
Importance
Good osteopathic practice requires obtaining a patient’s informed consent. Informed consent guidelines have been developed by the Osteopathic Board of Australia and is important that osteopaths follow these guidelines during their consultations. These guidelines ensure clear lines of communication are maintained, providing the patient with all available information to make well informed decisions about their healthcare. This process empowers the patient and builds trust and comfort between patient and practitioner, ultimately leading to improved patient healthcare outcomes.
Furthermore, If Osteopaths do not abide by the OBA informed consent guidelines, osteopaths are at risk of repercussions if patients make a complaint to the OBA. The Osteopathy Board of Australia will investigate an osteopath who is alleged to have breached the informed consent guidelines and if the allegations are justified, the OBA can impose sanctions including deregistration.

Confidentiality Summary

What is …show more content…

complying with relevant legislation, policies and procedures relating to consent
8. using consent processes, including formal documentation if required, for the release and exchange of health and medical information
9. ensuring that use of social media is consistent with the practitioner’s ethical and legal obligations to protect privacy.
Importance
Confidentiality is essential in healthcare for developing trust and comfort between patient and practitioner, ultimately optimising patient healthcare outcomes. A breach of confidentiality can not only affect a person’s dignity leading to embarrassment but can cause harm and damage relationships. For example, if personal health information is disclosed to a third party (employer, insurer, or family member), it can result in stigma, embarrassment, and discrimination. Thus, without some assurance of privacy, people may be reluctant to provide complete disclosures of sensitive information even to their osteopaths. Ensuring privacy can promote more effective communication between physician and patient, which is essential for quality of care, enhanced autonomy, and preventing economic harm, embarrassment, and

Open Document