Lucanus Gynaecology

YOUR RIGHTS AND INFORMED CONSENT

During investigations and treatment at Lucanus Gynaecology we will fully respect your rights to dignified care and complete information.

These rights are of long-standing, but in New Zealand have been codified by the Health and Disability Commissioner and the Medical Council. We will explain them in turn. A full document is available on request.

Your Rights

These are laid down by the Health and Disability Commissioner for people receiving a Health or Disability Service.

Respect. You should always be treated with respect. This includes respect for your culture, values and beliefs, as well as your right to personal privacy.
Fair Treatment. No-one should discriminate against you, pressure you into something you do not want, or take advantage of you in any way.
Dignity and Independence. Services should support you to live a dignified, independent life.
Proper Standards. You have the right to be treated with care and skill, and to receive services which reflect your needs. All those involved in your care should work together for you.
Communication. You have the right to be listened to, understood, and receive information in whatever way you need. When it is necessary an interpreter should be available.
Information. You have the right to have your condition explained and to be told what your choices are. This includes how long you may have to wait, an estimate of any costs and likely benefits and side effects. You can ask any questions to help you to be fully informed.
It’s Your Decision. It’s up to you to decide. You can say no or change your mind at any time.
Support. You have the right to have someone with you to give you support in most circumstances.
Teaching and Research. All these rights apply when taking part in teaching and research.
Complaints. It is OK to complain – your complaints help improve service. It must be easy for you to make a complaint, and it should not have an adverse effect on the way you are treated.

Medical Council Guidelines

The following points laid down by the Medical Council of New Zealand will be clarified in discussion.

The nature status and purpose of the procedure, including its expected benefits and an indication as to whether it is orthodox, unorthodox, or experimental.
The likelihood of the available doctors achieving the specific outcome that the patient seeks.
The appropriate and relevant management options or alternatives with their possible effects and outcomes.
The associated physical emotional mental social and sexual outcomes that may accompany the proposed management.
Significant known risks, including general risks associated with procedures such as anaesthesia, the degree of risk and the likelihood of it occurring for that particular patient.
Any likely or common side effects, particularly in drug therapy.
The consequences of not accepting the proposed treatment.
The name and status of the person who will carry out the management and of others, from time to time, who may continue the management.

Research and Teaching

Occasionally at Lucanus Gynaecology we may discuss treatments which are new, or seek to include other practitioners in our team. We undertake to fully inform you if these factors apply to your case.

Informed Consent

At Lucanus Gynaecology we believe it is very important that during any investigation and when treatment is proposed that you understand the matter enough to make a proper judgement. This implies that you know how the diagnosis of your problem was made, and video screens on our diagnostic equipment that allow you to view your condition directly are helpful in this regard. You should be aware of any alternatives that might be used in treatment of the problem, and the relative merits of the alternative treatments should be understood by you.

It may be that one course of treatment is clearly better than others, but consideration of the others should be deep enough to clarify the advantages of all treatments and enable you to choose the best for your purposes, or none of them if none appeal. In other words you must be as fully informed as practicable.

We undertake to discuss matters as above with you so that you may feel as empowered as is possible by the knowledge. If at any stage you do not feel aware of the investigation or discussion to your satisfaction please say so clearly, and we will be pleased to review it with you. We seek your trust in our process and will explain and clarify it at any stage.

Clarification of your informed decision is sought directly from you, and as we fully convey the findings to your doctor, we encourage you to go over the matter with your doctor. It is your doctor’s responsibility to be aware of and give qualified support to any Consultant’s decision to offer care to you. This is because he/she is the originator of the referral to our specialist firm, and is a major partner in the medical team treating you.

Summary

At Lucanus Gynaecology we are dedicated to constant improvement of quality services. A high emphasis is laid on maintenance of proficiency by continuing medical education. Our chief objective is the rendering of modern effective gynaecological care and treatment. An essential component of this care is our service in giving you the most complete information possible in the circumstances to enable you to decide to your best and safest advantage. Further enquiries are always welcome.