Colonoscopy is generally performed under intravenous sedation, which may al
ter a patient's responses and perception. What should be done if during the
procedure, a patient withdraws the consent previously given? The views of
gastroenterologists and patients were ascertained by mailing questionnaires
to 100 members of the British Society of Gastroenterology and to 100 patie
nts who had undergone colonoscopy with intravenous sedation.
Only 1 of 59 eligible consultants who replied said they would stop the proc
edure after a single request, but a further 51 would stop if, repeatedly as
ked to do so. Of the remaining 7 who would complete the procedure, 1 nevert
heless believed that a sedated patient is capable of making a rational deci
sion. Of the 51 patients who returned a usable questionnaire, 25 thought th
at the procedure should be stopped immediately following a request, while 2
6 felt that the doctor should continue.
The divergent and sometimes inconsistent Views found in this study highligh
ted the need for further clarification of the issue of informed consent for
procedures conducted with the patient under sedation.