| dc.description.abstract | Consent is a vital requirement for surgeries.
Surgeries done without consent would be
considered to be causing hurt or grievous hurt
under local law. A descriptive cross-sectional
study was conducted over 3 months in NHSL.
All 127 patients were aged above 18years and
legally competent to consent. An interviewer
administrated questionnaire and clinical notes
were used. The mean age was 42.3 years (SD
10.8) and 40.9% (52) were females and 59.1%
were males (73).Written consent was not taken
from 7(5.5%). Eighteen patients (13.2%) were not
aware of the site of incision. Alternatives were not
offered to 115(90.5%).About 80% (102) were not
given information of anaesthetic complications.
Information of general surgical complications
were not given to 30(23.7%) and 60 were (47.2%) not
informed surgery specific complications. Consent
was taken from 30patients (23.7%) within 6hours
from the surgery and within 6hours to 24hours
in 73(57.5%) cases, before 24hours in 24(18.9%)
cases. From 56 patients (44.1%) consent was taken
by an intern doctor, 10(7.9%)by a nurse, 38(30%)
by a medical officer and 23(18.1%) by a postgraduate
trainee. A total of 101patients (79.5%)
did not know the identity of the consent taking
person. In 98 cases (77.2%) the mother language
is used, 23(22.8%) 2nd language is used. Time was
not given for clarifications in 112cases (88.2%).
Elective surgeries are standard procedures with
known complications. Authors suggest giving
adequate time before the surgery and chance for
clarifications. Identity of the health care personnel
is important to build trust on credibility of
information. Authors suggest implicating a check
list, not to neglect components. Awareness of the
components and the significance of the consent
taking should be emphasized at institutional,
local and national level. | en_US |
