Informed Consent
Te Toka Tumai Auckland
To meet the requirements of the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), Te Toka Tumai Auckland must follow the MCNZ guidance on informed consent.
This means we need to be clear about who can obtain consent, for what, and at what stage of training.
MCNZ guidance can be found here: https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/standards/55f15c65af/Statement-on-informed-consent.pdf
Key things to know about informed consent
The doctor doing the procedure or treatment is ultimately responsible for informed consent.
If you are the treating doctor, you must check that the patient understands what’s happening and is happy to proceed.
Sometimes the person who gets consent isn’t the person doing the procedure; that’s okay, as long as the patient knows this.
You should only obtain consent for parts of care that you understand well enough to explain properly.
If a doctor in training will be involved in any part of a procedure, this must be discussed openly with the patient.
What house officers can consent for
PGY1–2 house officers
PGY1 and PGY2 house officers are limited to consenting for the following only:
Blood transfusions
Stage 1 endoscopy consent
Procedures they will be performing themselves
PGY1–2 house officers will receive specific guidance and training on informed consent from the Director of Prevocational Training.
PGY3 and above
PGY3+ house officers may consent for a wider range of procedures.
This should only occur after appropriate training and in accordance with MCNZ guidance.
Senior clinicians remain responsible for making sure house officers are supported and working within their scope.
When in doubt
If you’re unsure whether you should be obtaining consent:
Check with your senior
Or step back and ask the treating clinician to have the consent discussion
It’s always okay to say, “I’m not the right person to do this consent”.