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Blog 94 Obtaining Informed Consent

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On 19 July 2010 I had been blue-lighted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, because my General Practitioner was concerned I was losing consciousness. Following triage, I was scuttled away for a scan of my brain. (See image )   Whilst I was fading into a coma, a doctor told my wife Anne that it was necessary to drill holes into my skull to remove collections of blood (subdural haematomas) which were pressing on my brain. He then departed, soon to reappear later flourishing a clipboard and a pen.   He offered me the pen, his body language suggesting I should sign the ‘Informed Consent’ document.  Note blood between skull and brain on left This is an essential legal form, which must be signed by all patients prior to healthcare interventions. T he principle of such consent plays a key part in medical ethics and international human rights law. Not least it provides litigation perspectives for both doctor and patient should anything go wrong. However, for consent to be va...
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Blog 93 Christmas Evening in Hospital 60 years ago

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 Hospital life has changed enormously over the last 60 years, no more so than in the way that Christmas is celebrated.   In those days a unique seasonal atmosphere developed during Christmas week and for those of us who were fortunate enough to be resident at that time, celebrating Christmas in hospital was a memorable experience. Four or five days before the big day, the porters erected a Christmas tree in the centre of the ward.    Each ward had its own box of decorations and it often fell to the night staff to decorate the tree, usually, in the early hours of the morning when the ward was quiet.   Many patients assisted by making paper chains and lanterns, or by designing a crib which was placed in the centre of the ward – an excellent form of occupational therapy! Invariably the fairy lights, perhaps put away in a rush the previous year, declined to work and this was a busy time for the hos...
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Post 92 Hospital manager outwits his medical colleagues

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 Paul entered the committee room with some trepidation but was grateful when Mr Weston, his consultant boss,  beckoned him to sit in an adjacent chair.    This was his first appearance representing the junior doctors at the consultants’ meeting. After ‘ apologies for absence’ had been noted and the minutes of the previous meeting  agreed and signed, the chairman Dr Shah welcomed Paul to his first meeting.    Then there was a long discussion under the heading ‘ requests for equipment’.    Paul learned from Mr Weston that a part of the hospital’s equipment budget was available for the consultants to spend as they thought appropriate.    A cardiologist wanted a new ECG machine costing £3.900, whereas a respiratory physician thought a spirometer priced at £2,450 would be a better investment.    The argument swayed to and fro for a good twenty minutes before Dr Shah decided that, in the absence of agreement and to save time,...
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