Informed Consent at SALHN

‘Consent’ means agreeing to a proposed specific procedure after you have been given proper and sufficient explanation of the nature and likely consequences and risks of the procedure.

Public hospitals in South Australia follow legislative and SA Health guidelines relating to consent. Your consent must be given in writing before all operations, blood transfusions, radiotherapy treatment, examinations under anaesthetic and non-operative procedures of a serious nature. Written consent must also be given for the administration of local, spinal or general anaesthetic procedures.

If your capacity to make decisions is impaired and you have an Advance Care Directive (ACD), your substitute decision maker will be able to provide consent on your behalf.

You may receive a consent form as part of your admission to hospital. Before you can make a decision and give your consent, it is important that you understand the procedure. A member of staff will explain it to you and, once you understand the procedure, please read all of the information on the consent form before you sign it. If there is any part of the procedure or the consent form you do not understand, please ask a member of staff for more information.

An external service provides interpreters for a range of languages, including sign language. If you need an interpreter to help you to understand what is being said so you can make an informed decision, please ask staff to arrange an interpreter for you.

Information sheets about many surgeries and procedures are available for patients and provide explanations in plain language. They can be requested from members of staff.

For more information visit the SA Health Consent to medical treatment and healthcare page.