WRITTEN CONSENT IS HAPHAZARD FOR MINOR UROLOGICAL PROCEDURES

Objective To determine the current practice among British urologists f or obtaining written consent for flexible cystoscopy and other minor p rocedures under local anaesthesia. Methods Postal questionnaires were sent to full members of The British Association of Urological Surgeons practising in the UK asking if they obtained written informed consent for local anaesthetic procedures, e.g. flexible cystoscopy, urethral dilatation, and urethral catheterization for retention, for urodynamic s or for intravesical chemotherapy. They were also asked whether they recorded that the risks and benefits of the procedure had been explain ed to the patient. Results Respondents were divided on whether they ob tained written consent for flexible cystoscopy and urethral dilatation . Most did not obtain written consent for catheterization for retentio n, urodynamics, intravesical chemotherapy or suprapubic catheterizatio n. The policy was inconsistent both between and within urologists. Con clusion Given the medicolegal importance of informed consent, consensu s among urologists is required so that national guidelines can be deve loped and a more rational policy applied.