Consent for Teaching - the experience of Pediatrics and Psychiatry

Abstract

Background and Aims: The informed consent protects patients' right of autonomy, as they may refuse to participate in the clinical teaching. In Pediatrics, young people aged 16 or over, and with the necessary judgment, may consent, being that in Psychiatry, the consent is also essential due to the personal character of the subjects addressed. This study aimed mainly to assess the practical application of informed consent in the medical education and the need for a new intervention plan. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was developed, and an interview-like questionnaire was applied to participants waiting for a scheduled consultation for themselves or the person they represented, in Pediatrics and Psychiatry. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to analyze the data. Results: Of the 370 participants, 70% from Pediatrics and 65% from Psychiatry reported prior experiences with students in consultations. Only 54% of Pediatrics' patients and 75% of Psychiatry's patients stated that the physician asked them if they minded the students' presence and even a smaller percentage from both departments (36% and 32%, respectively) affirmed that students introduced themselves as medical students and requested their consent to examine them. Discussion and Conclusions: Patients feel satisfied to contribute to the students' formation, although a considerable percentage of them had experiences without being informed or asked for consent, which represents an evident disrespect for their autonomy. There's a need to intervene and provide an adequate education of ethical values in clinical practice to students and teachers should become clear models of humanistic conduct.