Information offered to patients after consent for radiological procedures [QSI Ref: XR-502]

Are all patients offered a record of their consent for radiological procedures?

Written consent is necessary for a number of common procedures in radiology. The GMC recommends offering patients a written record of any discussions and/or visual or audio information. This can be achieved with consent forms that incorporate a carbon copy of the form signed by the patient and healthcare professional. The carbon copy can then be given to patients as a reminder of what was discussed, to allow the patient to reflect on this and to prevent alteration of the original consent form.

This audit aims to determine whether patients are offered a record of their consent.

The standard: 

All patients should be offered a written/audio/visual record of their consent.

Target: 

100% of consent forms should have an attached carbon copy or (if consent form does not incorporate carbon copy)

100% of patient notes should have some mention of written/audio/visual information about the discussion being offered to the patient.

Indicators: 

% of consent forms in patients’ records still containing carbon copy or

% of patient notes mentioning offer of written/audio/visual information to the patient.

Data items to be collected: 

Patient records containing consent discussion/consent form.

Suggested number: 

Any procedures requiring consent performed in the radiology department over a 2 month period.

If target of 100% of patients offered a carbon copy or written/visual/audio record is not met, 

1) Educate healthcare professionals involved in obtaining written consent.

2) Incorporate consent form copy check to check-lists (e.g. interventional radiology safety checklist form)

1. General Medical Council, Ethical guidance for doctors, Consent, Part 2 Making decisions about investigations and treatment, internet publication [accessed 11 September 2019] https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/consent

2. Commission on the Future of Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons, Standards and Guidance, internet publication [accessed 11 September 2019]  https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/standards-and-guidance/good-practice-guides/consent/ and https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/gsp/domain-3/3-5-1-consent/

Stefan Lazic