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Informed consent and midwifery practice in New Zealand: Lessons from the Health and Disability Commissioner

Abstract:

Informed consent appears to be a challenging and sometimes problematic area of practice for midwives. It is not always clear, for example, what amount of information is required to be supplied to women to ensure fully informed consent. Similarly it is unclear whether midwives can provide unbiased information, and what midwives’ communication responsibilities are when other health care providers become involved in care and treatment decisions. This paper examines the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers Rights and selected Commissioner’s opinions which consider potential breaches of the Code in relation to informed consent. Case analysis demonstrates how the principles relating to informed consent are applied in the midwifery context, and examines how the Commissioner’s opinions can offer practical guidance to midwives.

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autonomy, Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights, Informed consent, midwifery