REACHING TARGETS IN THE NATIONAL CERVICAL SCREENING-PROGRAM - ARE CURRENT PRACTICES UNETHICAL

The principle of informed consent is now well established within the N ational Health Service (NHS) in relation to any type of medical treatm ent. However, this ethical principle appears to be far less well estab lished in relation to medical screening programmes such as Britain's n ational cervical screening programme. This article will critically exa mine the case for health care providers vigorously pursuing women to a ccept an invitation to be screened. It will discuss the type of inform ation which women would need in order to make an informed decision abo ut whether or not to be screened. The lack of such information in curr ent patient leaflets on the ''smear test'' will then be documented Fin ally, the article will explore possible ways of maximising women's aut onomy in relation to the cervical screening programme without sacrific ing any of its main benefits.