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Multicenter Study
. 2002 Dec;95(12):601-3.
doi: 10.1258/jrsm.95.12.601.

How much do doctors know about consent and capacity?

Elizabeth Jackson  1 , James Warner
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

How much do doctors know about consent and capacity?

Elizabeth Jackson et al. J R Soc Med. 2002 Dec.

Erratum in

  • J R Soc Med. 2003 Jan;96(1):54

Abstract

To assess knowledge of capacity issues across different medical specialties we conducted a cross-sectional survey with a structured questionnaire at academic meetings, lectures and conferences. Of 190 individuals who received the questionnaire 129 (68%) responded-35 general practitioners, 31 psychiatrists, 29 old-age physicians [corrected] and 34 final year medical students. Correct answers on capacity to consent to or refuse medical treatment were given by 58% of the psychiatrists, 34% of the geriatricians, 20% of the general practitioners and 15% of the students. 15% of all respondents wrongly believed that a competent adult could lawfully be treated against his or her will, with no obvious differences by specialty. As judged by this survey, issues of capacity and consent deserve more attention in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

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Comment in

References

    1. Human Rights Act 1998. London: Stationery Office, 1998
    1. Re B (Medical Treatment: Right to Refuse). Family Law Reports 2002: 402
    1. Re C (Adult: Refusal of Treatment) 1. All England Reports 1994: 819
    1. Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR 5 QB 549
    1. Cowan J. Consent and clinical governance: improving standards and skills. Clin Perform Qual Health Care 2000;8: 124-8 - PubMed

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