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Informed Consent for Treatment

REG 11.45.4

Student Health Services (SHS)
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Authority: Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

History: First Issued: June 12, 2002.

Contact Info: Director of Student Health Services (SHS) (919)-513-3285.

1. Regulation:

The Student Health Services recognizes and respects the right of a competent adult patient to consent to or refuse medical procedures and treatment. Informed consent is a legal and ethical precondition for medical treatment with the exception of emergency situations. No patient may be treated unless consent to treatment has been given.

2. Procedure:

2.1 The patient's practitioner is responsible for ensuring that informed consent is obtained prior to treatment. An informed consent discussion between the patient and responsible practitioner must include a description of the patient's medical condition, the nature, purpose, risks, and benefits of the proposed treatment, alternate modes of treatment, and the prognosis if nothing is done. The patient should be given all of the information necessary to make a knowledgeable decision.

2.2. The patient's informed consent is valid as long as the patient's medical condition and proposed treatment and attendant risks have not changed. The patient may revoke his or her consent at any time.

2.3. A patient has the capacity to consent to his or her own treatment if he or she is capable of understanding the nature of the proposed treatment and the risks and consequences associated with it, and

2.3.1. is at least 18 years of age, or

2.3.2. is less than 18 years of age, and

2.3.2a. is married, or

2.3.2b. has received a judicial decree of emancipation, or

2.3.2c. is seeking medical services for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of venereal disease or other reportable infectious disease; pregnancy; abuse of controlled substances or alcohol; or emotional disturbance. If there is any doubt as to the patient's capacity to consent, the responsible practitioner should obtain a psychiatric consultation. If the practitioner feels that concern for a patient's health makes it inadvisable to give the patient information regarding their diagnoses, treatment, and prognoses, (for example, if the practitioner believes a patient to be potentially suicidal) the information should be made available to a parent, guardian, or other legally authorized individual. A psychiatric consult may also be requested in such a situation.

2.4. In the case of an unemancipated or unmarried minor, informed consent must be obtained from the patient's parent, guardian, or legal representative. Consent may be obtained over the telephone, and the conversation should be witnessed. The practitioner shall document in the patient's chart the time and content of the conversation.

A blanket consent obtained from a parent, guardian or legal representative prior to the student's entrance to NC State is acceptable and does not need further verification at the time the patient presents for care.

2.5. In an emergency situation, the practitioner may treat a minor without parental consent if delay of immediate treatment would endanger the life or seriously worsen the physical condition of the minor.

2.6. Written documentation of informed consent is required for surgical or invasive medical procedures.