A survey of Auckland anaesthetists reveals variability in risk disclosure practices, though a strong majority support the use of risk-disclosing information leaflets for elective patients.
Variable consent practices support leaflet development; leaves open effects on disclosure quality and outcomes.
Auckland anaesthetists were surveyed. Of these, 68% obtain written informed consent, 67% are familiar with the New Zealand Medical Council's statement on informed consent, and 57% believe that they conform with this statement in their practice. 4% of anaesthetists always warn their patients of the possibility of death, 9% never do. 87% warn of minor complications such as vomiting, 28% warn of possible awareness, 27% of possible paralysis with spinal or epidural. 83% felt that some form of risk-disclosing anaesthetic information leaflet would be of value for elective patients. After perusing a proposed information leaflet, 40% answered "yes" they would be happy for it to be combined with the non-risk-specific anaesthetic information currently given to patients, 23% answered "yes, with reservations", 18% answered "yes, if modified first", 13% "no, only if the patient asks to know more about risks,", and 5% "no, not to any patient".
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I. H. Chapman (1997) studied this question.
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