Informed consent for medical student involvement in patient care: an updated consensus statement

Simon Walker; Papaarangi Reid; Lynley Anderson; Susan Bull; Monique Jonas; Joanna Manning; Alan Merry; Suzanne Pitama; Sarah Rennie; Jeanne Snelling; Tim Wilkinson; Warwick Bagg

Informed consent for medical student involvement in patient care: an updated consensus statement

N Z Med J. 2023 Jul 21;136(1579):86-95.

Authors

Simon Walker¹, Papaarangi Reid², Lynley Anderson¹, Susan Bull³, Monique Jonas⁴, Joanna Manning⁵, Alan Merry⁶, Suzanne Pitama⁷, Sarah Rennie⁸, Jeanne Snelling⁹, Tim Wilkinson¹⁰, Warwick Bagg⁶

Affiliations

¹ Bioethics Centre, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
² Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
³ Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand; Ethox Centre and Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford; Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, England.
⁴ Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
⁵ Faculty of Law, The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
⁶ Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland; Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Auckland, New Zealand.
⁷ Department of Māori/Indigenous Health Innovation, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
⁸ Education Unit, University of Otago, Wellington; Te Whatu Ora Wairarapa, New Zealand.
⁹ Faculty of Law, University of Otago, New Zealand.
¹⁰ Education Unit, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.

PMID: 37501247

Abstract

Enabling patients to consent to or decline involvement of medical students in their care is an essential aspect of ethically sound, patient-centred, mana-enhancing healthcare. It is required by Aotearoa New Zealand law and Te Kaunihera Rata o Aotearoa Medical Council of New Zealand policy. This requirement was affirmed and explored in a 2015 Consensus Statement jointly authored by the Auckland and Otago Medical Schools. Student reporting through published studies, reflective assignments and anecdotal experiences of students and teachers indicate procedures for obtaining patient consent to student involvement in care remain substandard at times. Between 2020 and 2023 senior leaders of Aotearoa New Zealand's two medical schools, and faculty involved with teaching ethics and professionalism, met to discuss these challenges and reflect on ways they could be addressed. Key stakeholders were engaged to inform proposed responses. This updated consensus statement is the result. It does not establish new standards but outlines Aotearoa New Zealand's existing cultural, ethical, legal and regulatory requirements, and considers how these may be reasonably and feasibly met using some examples.

MeSH terms

Ethics, Medical*
Humans
Informed Consent
New Zealand
Patient Care
Students, Medical*