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>Date and purpose of meeting
2nd March 2010. I was to ask consent from a patient for an abdominal examination

>Setting

Please tick a single response.
Hospital Ward
Community
GP Practice
A&E/Acute Unit
X    Out Patient Clinic
Other

>Explain the situation when you needed to gain informed consent and how you did this.
I introduced myself as a medical student and explained that I needed to expose from the nipple to the iliac crest. I pointed to the area of the body without touching. I asked a colleague to chaperone me. I then asked if I could continue. I think they were Ok with this and gave verbal consent which was also heard by my colleague.

(Tutor) The way you open a consultation is very important so it is good to see you have made your role clear to the patient. As well as explaining what you are going to do could you also have explained why it is necessary? E.g. is it part of your learning or part of the patients care. Understanding why procedures or examinations are needed is part of giving informed consent.Iliac is quite a medical term. Is there another word you could use here? Good to see you are working in partnership with a colleague and recognising that the patient has a right to a chaperone.

>How do you know the service user understood the risks and benefits of the course of action and was diversity of needs considered?
The patient gave a verbal consent “no worries” which was heard by my colleague. They gave a clear reply which was not influenced by anyone else. The patient appeared mentally capable and there was no reason to suspect otherwise.

(Tutor) Sounds like you have taken the patient’s level of understanding into consideration. Good.

>How did you ensure the interaction was recorded appropriately?
I documented in the patient’s notes with my colleague’s confirmation

(Tutor) Again working in partnership with a colleague. Well done.

>How did this interaction relate to your professional code?
Assess under mental capacity act, allow chaperone. Ensure dignity and respect throughout

(Tutor) Good knowledge of your professional code. You could perhaps expand on “ensure dignity and respect throughout” by explaining how you did this. What was it about your communication and actions which ensured dignity and respect?

>Ask yourself: What did I do well, what could I do differently? You will need this information to develop your action plan.
I approached the patient in a professional manner, I explained everything and allowed them to refuse the examination. I also ensured there was a colleague present.
I might possibly gain written consent if it was a more personal investigation or if there were risks involved

(Tutor) What was it about your manner that was professional? Can you give some examples? Good that you made sure they knew they could refuse. This is very important.Good that you are considering how you would adapt your communication mode in different contexts. You could also reflect upon whether there is anything you could have done differently in this particular situation.

>Considering the assessment you have just completed, do you think at this stage in your training you would be able to repeat this aspect of practice?

Please tick a single response.
X     Yes in most situations including under pressure
Yes in similar situations with minimal supervision
Yes in similar situations under close supervision
Only if it would be harmful to a service user not to
No

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