A critical review of thyroidectomy consent in the UK.
Adult
Anesthesia, General
/ adverse effects
Attitude to Health
Female
Humans
Informed Consent
/ legislation & jurisprudence
Laryngeal Nerve Injuries
/ etiology
Male
Malpractice
/ legislation & jurisprudence
Middle Aged
Postoperative Complications
Prospective Studies
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries
/ etiology
State Medicine
/ legislation & jurisprudence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Thyroidectomy
/ adverse effects
United Kingdom
Consent
Patient consent
Thyroid
Thyroid surgery
Journal
International journal of surgery (London, England)
ISSN: 1743-9159
Titre abrégé: Int J Surg
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101228232
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2019
Jun 2019
Historique:
received:
08
02
2019
revised:
01
04
2019
accepted:
22
04
2019
pubmed:
6
5
2019
medline:
6
8
2019
entrez:
6
5
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
In 2015-16, the National Health Service (NHS) Litigation Authority received 10,965 claims for clinical negligence, with surgery having the highest number of claims. Currently a sum amounting to 25% of the annual NHS budget has been ring-fenced to meet extant claims. Claims made on a basis of inadequate informed consent are increasingly seen with many achieving a successful plaintiff outcome. There are presently no UK guidelines for thyroidectomy consent. A prospective study was performed to investigate current consent practice among the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons (BAETS) membership and patients having previously undergone thyroidectomy. For surgeons, the Bolam legal test applied where surgeons declared what risks and complications they routinely consented for during their practice. A study was also undertaken in patients who had previously undergone thyroidectomy for cancer applying the rule of Montgomery. Consent practice from 193 surgeons and data from 415 patients was analysed. In total thyroidectomy for cancer, 95% of surgeons consent for Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN) injury and temporary or permanent voice change. 70% specifically consent for External Laryngeal Nerve (ELN) injury, 50% for tracheostomy and 55% for general anaesthetic associated complications. Analysis of patient data showed they would like to be consented for far more risks than they are presently informed about in general medical practice. There was significant variation in the consenting practice in BAETS surgeons. A BAETS approved consensus guideline to standardise UK consent practice would be appropriate. This may reduce complaints, litigation claims and guide expert witnesses.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
In 2015-16, the National Health Service (NHS) Litigation Authority received 10,965 claims for clinical negligence, with surgery having the highest number of claims. Currently a sum amounting to 25% of the annual NHS budget has been ring-fenced to meet extant claims. Claims made on a basis of inadequate informed consent are increasingly seen with many achieving a successful plaintiff outcome. There are presently no UK guidelines for thyroidectomy consent.
METHOD
METHODS
A prospective study was performed to investigate current consent practice among the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons (BAETS) membership and patients having previously undergone thyroidectomy. For surgeons, the Bolam legal test applied where surgeons declared what risks and complications they routinely consented for during their practice. A study was also undertaken in patients who had previously undergone thyroidectomy for cancer applying the rule of Montgomery.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Consent practice from 193 surgeons and data from 415 patients was analysed. In total thyroidectomy for cancer, 95% of surgeons consent for Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN) injury and temporary or permanent voice change. 70% specifically consent for External Laryngeal Nerve (ELN) injury, 50% for tracheostomy and 55% for general anaesthetic associated complications. Analysis of patient data showed they would like to be consented for far more risks than they are presently informed about in general medical practice. There was significant variation in the consenting practice in BAETS surgeons.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
A BAETS approved consensus guideline to standardise UK consent practice would be appropriate. This may reduce complaints, litigation claims and guide expert witnesses.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31055078
pii: S1743-9191(19)30098-6
doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2019.04.015
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
84-88Informations de copyright
Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.