<scp>FIGO</scp> best practice guidance in surgical consent
Elif Göknur Topçu, P. McClenahan, Koketso Pule, Hajra Khattak, Sezin Eda Karsli, Marijo Čukelj, Akaninyene Eseme Ubom, Esraa Algurjia, Kubra Ozpinar, Yotin Ramon Perez, Rashid Bunu, Leopoldo Santiago Sanabria, Francisco Javier Ruiloba Portilla, Elizabete Pumpure, Priyankur Roy, Paul Fogarty
Abstract
Obtaining medical consent preoperatively is one of the key steps in preparing for surgery, and is an important step in informed decision making with the patient. According to good medical practice guidelines, doctors are required to have the knowledge and skills to treat patients as well as inform them, respect their wishes, and establish trust between themselves and their patients. Valid consent includes elements of competence, disclosure, understanding, and voluntariness. Documentation of these elements is also very important. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Education Communication and Advocacy Consortium (ECAC) has realized that the quality of consent varies considerably across the world and has developed simple guidelines regarding consent and procedure-specific checklists for the most common obstetric and gynecological procedures.