In the veterinary field, informed consent plays a crucial role. As a member of the veterinary team, it is necessary to recognise the responsibility of treating animal patients and effectively communicating potential risks to pet owners. Electronic signatures provide a simpler and more efficient way to sign and manage consent forms than traditional paper documents. Read on to learn about veterinary consent forms and their integration with electronic signatures.
What is informed Consent?
In veterinary practice, consent means that the client agrees to the actions recommended by the veterinarian (VS), which may include examination, medication, treatment or surgery for their animal. Informed consent means ensuring that clients are provided with comprehensive, understandable information about the health status of their animal and available treatment options. As veterinary professionals, it is important for clients to make informed decisions about their pet's care, and this is an important responsibility to ensure transparency and trust in the veterinarian-client relationship. It is important that clients demonstrate that they fully understand the implications and major risks of treatment before giving consent, which can be confirmed verbally or in writing.
Importance of Informed Consent
A veterinary practitioner takes reasonable steps to establish that the individual presenting the animal has the authority to consent a procedure or treatment or a course of action in relation to the animal receiving the veterinary service. (Vetboard Victoria, guideline 4.4)
The primary objective of informed consent is to uphold the owner's autonomy in making decisions regarding their legal property, which includes their animals. In veterinary practice, disputes frequently arise due to misunderstandings concerning treatment costs and options, whether they are already given or proposed. Initially, informed consent aims to mitigate potential confusion and distress for both the veterinarian and the client. By ensuring that clients understand the risks linked with a specific course of action, veterinarians can reduce the chances of adverse events happening, thus safeguarding the well-being of animals and preserving the professional integrity of the veterinary field.
From a legal perspective, any harm caused by a veterinarian to an animal owned by another person without proper consent may constitute a violation of property rights and thus a civil offence. Therefore, obtaining the consent of the pet owner is critical to the veterinarian's evaluation or treatment of the animal patient. Failure to obtain adequate consent not only has legal consequences, but also damages the veterinarian's professional reputation and undermines the trust between veterinarian and client.
Understanding the importance of informed consent in veterinary medicine is similar to its importance in human healthcare. Unlike humans, animal patients are unable to express their preferences or concerns about medical care. Therefore, prioritising the welfare of animals is paramount in veterinary medicine, and obtaining informed consent is a commitment to this principle. It ensures that clients are fully informed about their pet's health status, treatment options and potential risks, enabling them to make decisions that are in their pet's best interests.
Whose professional responsibility to obtain consent?
In veterinary medicine, the veterinarian or veterinary surgeon (VS) who is directly engaged in the animal's diagnosis, treatment, or surgery is often in charge of getting informed consent. If the nurse is assigned this responsibility, she needs to ascertain whether the patient has received the information from the doctor and what the nurse has explained to them. By helping with communication, giving information about treatment alternatives, and making sure the client is aware of the consequences of their decisions, the nurse or technician may help to facilitate the consent process.
Digital Consent forms
Traditionally, veterinary practices have relied on paper informed consent forms, which presents challenges for both veterinarians and nurses. The process involves printing the document, obtaining the pet owner's signature, and then attaching it to the paper chart or scanning it into a computer system. This manual process is labour intensive and error prone, leading to inefficient management.
In the modern world, electronic signature solutions such as VetCheck have become commonplace in veterinary clinics. These platforms provide a secure, streamlined method for capturing and tracking signatures on important documents. By utilising electronic signatures, veterinary practices can streamline paperwork processes, save time and ensure that all necessary documents are securely attached to patient records. This technological advancement is in keeping with the fast-paced nature of veterinary practices and improves the overall efficiency of managing consent forms.
The Evolution of E-Signatures
Electronic signatures, like handwritten signatures, are a legally recognised method of signing documents and have been widely adopted globally since the early 2000s, as well as Australian Courts Generally Consider Electronic Signatures Valid. Methods of implementing electronic signatures vary from proprietary software to email or dedicated platforms that seamlessly integrate into veterinary practice management systems.
Advantages of E-Signatures in Veterinary Practice
Compared to the traditional paper informed consent, the e-signatures benefits in:
Ensuring Compliance and Ethical Practice
Although there are numerous advantages of electronic signatures, but it is still necessary for veterinarians and nurses to ensure that their use complies with legal and ethical standards. This includes verifying the identity of the client signing the consent form and keeping detailed records of the consent process. Veterinary practices must comply with privacy regulations to protect electronic health information.
Furthermore, even in the digital realm, clear communication and engagement with customers throughout the consent process remains a necessity. Electronic signatures are merely a “supplement” to treatment options and informed decision-making.
Conclusion
In the end, the informed consent plays a crucial role of veterinary practices in safeguarding the rights of both veterinary professionals and clients. The generation of electronic signatures into veterinary clinics represents a notable advancement for the industry. By streamlining the consent process, electronic signatures increase efficiency, accuracy and compliance with regulations. As a result, veterinary teams are empowered to provide quality patient care.
References
Ashall, V., Millar, K.M. and Hobson-West, P. (2017). Informed Consent in Veterinary Medicine: Ethical Implications for the Profession and the Animal ‘Patient’. Food Ethics, [online] 1(3), pp.247–258. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s41055-017-0016-2.