New consent guidance challenges time pressured doctors

MPS welcomes the practical approach adopted in the GMC guidance; Consent: Patients and Doctors Making Decisions Together. However, MPS believes that the new guidance may place doctors under additional time pressure.

Dr Stephanie Bown, Director of Policy and Communications, said: “As reflected in the title of this guidance, the emphasis is on shared decision making, we whole heartedly welcome this. The guidance will have a particular impact where doctors are treating patients with impaired or fluctuating decision making abilities.

“Doctors are under a duty to optimise each patients’ ability to make their own decisions, which when done properly can be very time consuming - Especially so where the nature of the decision is complex or involves a number of options. Doctors are already working in a pressurised environment and this adds to it.

“In order for doctors to meet the standards expected from this guidance, we would like to see it reflected at an earlier stage of their training, so that they can be well prepared for the issues that will arise when dealing with patients whose capacity to make a decision may be impaired.”

ENDS