Organization
[October 01, 2024 1:21 PM]
Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)
 
Please find attached correspondence from the CMPA regarding the College’s consultations on the draft Consent to Treatment Policy, Advice document and Guide to Health Care Consent Act. 
 
Response in PDF format:
CMPA Response_20241001_Redacted.pdf
Physician (including retired)
[October 01, 2024 12:21 PM]
I have some concerns about the assumed power dynamic between physicians and patients. When a patient arrives at the hospital or at my office with a family member who they have brought with the express intent of that person acting as a translator - it is very difficult for me to question this. If I ask if they feel comfortable having the person who has come with them translate for them and they say “yes” it is then very difficult for me to question this. I think there should be a statement in the translation section to the effect of - if the patient brings someone with them for the purposes of translation and/or offers for that person to translate for them - then it is implied that the patient feels that this translator is adequate and appropriate. I likely do not speak the language that is being translated - therefore in many cases the patient is a better judge of how able their support person is to translate accurately. I think we put too much onus on the physician to protect patients from themselves. The patient needs to take some responsibility here.
Physician (including retired)
[October 01, 2024 11:19 AM]
For requirement to document details of consent, consider requiring this for procedures may that result in permanent changes to bodily function. In oncology this can be radiation and/or systemic therapy, not just surgery.
Physician (including retired)
[September 12, 2024 3:37 PM]
As a geriatrician who deals with the wide range of issues of consent in capable and incapable patients and complexities of families, I think the policies are well thought out and balanced. I think it is very hard for some physicians to follow these guidelines as it takes a lot of time and there is often a range of conflicts, depending on the patient's and family dynamics. I support these policies and hope that they will assist physicians to help their patients, and their families make what are often very difficult decisions.