POLICY
Informed Consent
Our Commitment
Drummond Dermatology is committed to supporting patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
We believe that patients have the right to receive clear information about their condition, treatment options, expected benefits, potential risks and alternatives before deciding whether to proceed with treatment.
Informed consent is an important part of high-quality medical care and reflects a partnership between doctor and patient.
What Is Informed Consent?
Informed consent is the process by which a patient voluntarily agrees to a medical examination, investigation, treatment or procedure after receiving sufficient information to make an informed decision.
Informed consent involves discussion of:
- The nature of the condition being treated
- The proposed treatment or procedure
- Expected benefits
- Potential risks and complications
- Reasonable alternative options
- The likely outcome if treatment is not undertaken
- Relevant costs and fees
Patients are encouraged to ask questions and seek clarification at any stage.
Shared Decision-Making
Drummond Dermatology supports shared decision-making.
This means that treatment decisions are made collaboratively, taking into account:
- Medical evidence
- Clinical expertise
- Patient preferences
- Individual circumstances
- Personal values and goals
Patients are encouraged to participate actively in decisions about their care.
Understanding Risks, Side Effects and Complications
All medical treatments, procedures and medications involve risks, side effects and potential complications.
While every effort is made to minimise risks and provide care according to accepted professional standards, no treatment can be guaranteed to be completely risk-free or successful. Treatment outcomes may not always meet a patient’s expectations.
Some complications may be temporary, while others may be permanent. Even when treatment is appropriately provided, unexpected outcomes can occur.
The purpose of informed consent is not to eliminate uncertainty, but to ensure that patients have sufficient information to weigh the potential benefits, risks and limitations of treatment before making a decision.
It is neither practical nor clinically useful to discuss every conceivable complication or side effect associated with a treatment. Instead, discussions will generally focus on:
- Material risks that a reasonable person would wish to know
- Risks that may be significant in the patient’s particular circumstances
- Common side effects and complications
- Serious but less common complications
- Available alternatives
Patients are encouraged to ask about any risks or concerns that are particularly important to them.
Understanding Risk Estimates
Medicine is not an exact science.
When discussing the likelihood of benefits, side effects or complications, terms such as:
- Common
- Uncommon
- Rare
- Very rare
or numerical estimates may be used.
These estimates are based on available medical evidence and clinical experience but cannot predict the outcome for any individual patient. Outcomes may vary depending on:
- Individual patient factors
- Underlying medical conditions
- Medications
- Genetics
- Severity of disease
- Response to treatment
Risk estimates should therefore be regarded as guides rather than guarantees.
Your Rights
Patients have the right to:
- Receive information in a way they can understand
- Ask questions
- Take time to consider their options
- Seek a second opinion
- Have a support person present
- Decline treatment
- Withdraw consent at any time before treatment proceeds
Choosing not to proceed with treatment will not affect your right to receive respectful and appropriate care.
Children and Young People
For children and young people, consent will usually be obtained from a parent, guardian or other person authorised to make healthcare decisions.
Where appropriate, children and adolescents will be involved in discussions about their healthcare and their views will be respected.
Clinical Photography
Dermatology is a highly visual specialty and clinical photography may form an important part of diagnosis, treatment and monitoring.
Patients will generally be informed before photographs are taken.
Clinical photographs and dermatoscopic images form part of the medical record and are managed in accordance with the Privacy Policy and Clinical Photography Policy.
Procedures and Treatments
Where procedures or treatments are recommended, discussions may include:
- Expected benefits
- Potential complications
- Possible side effects
- Alternative treatments
- Recovery expectations
- Follow-up requirements
- The consequences of declining treatment
Written consent may be required for some procedures.
Telehealth Consultations
Informed consent applies equally to telehealth consultations.
Patients should understand that telehealth has limitations, including the inability to perform physical examination or dermatoscopy in many circumstances.
A face-to-face consultation may be recommended where necessary to ensure safe and appropriate care.
Informed Financial Consent
Patients are entitled to information regarding the likely costs of treatment before proceeding.
Drummond Dermatology is committed to providing clear information regarding:
- Consultation fees
- Procedure fees
- Medicare rebates
- Expected out-of-pocket expenses
Patients are encouraged to ask for an estimate or quotation before agreeing to procedures or additional services.
In some circumstances it may not be possible to provide an exact fee in advance because Medicare item numbers and treatment requirements may depend on findings made during consultation or procedure.
Questions
Patients are encouraged to ask questions about any aspect of their diagnosis, treatment or proposed procedure.
If you have concerns regarding risks, benefits, alternatives, costs or likely outcomes, please discuss these with Dr Catherine Drummond before making a decision.
“Good medical care depends on open communication, mutual understanding and informed decision-making. We are committed to helping patients understand their options and make decisions that are right for them.”
Related Policies
Drummond Dermatology
Suite 16, Francis Chambers
40-42 Corinna St, Phillip ACT 2606
The best way to contact us is via email
E: contact@drumderm.com.au
P: +61 2 5114 2682
F: +61 2 5114 2684
Office Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Wednesdays: 9.00am – 3.00pm
Friday: 9.00am – 2.00pm
How to get here
Drummond Dermatology pays respect to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.