GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL'S NEW GUIDANCE, CONSENT: PATIENTS AND DOCTORS MAKING DECISIONS TOGETHER

That this House congratulates the General Medical Council (GMC) on developing new guidance Consent: Patients and Doctors Making Decisions Together, notes that it reflects the greater emphasis now placed on doctors working in partnership with patients to make good decisions about treatment and care; welcomes the importance placed by the guidance on involving members of the healthcare team, relatives, carers and others close to the patient in decision-making when appropriate; welcomes the advice that discussions with patients need to be tailored to suit the individual; and further welcomes the clarification the guidance provides on a range of issues including how doctors should explain risks to patients, on decision-making when a patient's capacity is impaired, decision-making in emergency situations, and what to do in the event that a patient does not want to receive information about their condition or treatment; and further congratulates the GMC for its wide-ranging and innovative consultation process involving active participation from doctors, patients and carers.