Cross-sectional Analysis of the Standards of Consent Applied to Anaesthesia in Ireland: Are Anaesthetists Aware of their Legal and Ethical Obligations?

Consent to a medical intervention has legally and ethically evolved to a process prioritising autonomy and patient-led decision-making. This cross-sectional analysis investigated Irish anaesthetists' practices of taking consent. Following ethical approval, trainees and fellows of the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland were invited to participate in a 33 question online survey. One hundred and sixty responses (11.8%) were received, an equal number coming from consultants and trainees. The majority (93.7%) worked in a teaching hospital. Fifteen percent said their department had guidelines on obtaining consent for anaesthesia, but only 4.5% said their department used a separate consent form. Most (63.8%) do not usually document consent. A significant number rarely (21.8%) or never (27.8%) explained risks to patients. Lack of time was identified as the most frequent barrier (77.6%), with just under half first meeting the patient in the theatre holding-bay or the anaesthetic room. Forty-one percent felt the ultimate decision regarding which anaesthetic technique is employed should usually lie with the anaesthetist alone. These results suggest a wide variation in the practice of obtaining consent for anaesthesia. Less than half deemed their practice to be adequate in this regard, while 50% were concerned about litigation stemming from inadequate consent.

[Surgeons-anesthetists relations: From an individual responsibility of the surgeon to a shared responsibility with the anesthetist]. / Relations chirurgiens/anesthésistes-réanimateurs : d'une responsabilité individuelle du chirurgien à une responsabilité partagée avec l'anesthésiste-réanimateur.

Throughout the perioperative period, anesthetists and surgeons jointly provide care for patients. The advances in medicine and surgery, the practice of perioperative quality medicine and the recent application of enhanced recovery program after surgery have necessitated strengthening the place of each in its area of expertise while developing the spirit team and communication. Thus, alongside the surgeon who was once considered the head of the surgical team, the anesthetist's role has been to consolidate for the management of the surgical patient and had his spot empower themselves in the eye of the patient with the birth an own contract with the patient (due in particular to the obligation to preanesthetic consultation by the decree of December 5, 1994). This has led to a new division of responsibility between these actors: jurisprudence has abandoned the exclusive responsibility of the surgeon, devoted own responsibility of the anesthetist with a division (if any) of responsibility between the anesthetist and the surgeon.