TY - JOUR T1 - Clinicians’ knowledge of informed consent JF - Journal of Medical Ethics JO - J Med Ethics SP - 181 LP - 184 DO - 10.1136/jme.2006.016758 VL - 33 IS - 3 AU - Lisa Fisher-Jeffes AU - Charlotte Barton AU - Fiona Finlay Y1 - 2007/03/01 UR - http://jme.bmj.com/content/33/3/181.abstract N2 - Objective: To audit doctors’ knowledge of informed consent. Design: 10 consent scenarios with “true”, “false”, or “don’t know” answers were completed by doctors who care for children at a large district general hospital. These questions tested clinicians’ knowledge of who could give consent in different clinical situations. Setting: Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK. Results: 51 doctors participated (25 paediatricians and 26 other clinicians). Paediatricians scored higher than other clinicians (average correct response 69% v 49%). Only 36% (9/25) of paediatricians and 8% (2/26) of other clinicians realised that the biological father of a child born before 1 December 2003 needed a court order or a parental responsibility agreement to acquire parental responsibility, and thus be able to consent on behalf of his child, if he was not married to the child’s mother. Non-paediatric clinicians were unsure or incorrect when tested on situations where people with parental responsibility do not agree, or where young people (<16 years), who are Fraser competent do not want to consult their parents. Most clinicians did not know that the parents of a 20-year-old man with severe learning difficulties are unable to consent to surgery on his behalf, and many non-paediatricians were unclear on who could give consent when a child lived with foster parents. Conclusion: Clinicians who obtain consent for the treatment of children need to increase their knowledge on who is able to give informed consent to ensure best (legal and safe) practice. ER -