Blue Fin Vision® obtains signed informed consent for every laser eye surgery procedure. This is not a formality – it is a structured clinical process that begins at the initial consultation and is completed in advance of the procedure date.
Consent at Blue Fin Vision® is modelled on the standard established by Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board UKSC 11, which requires that patients are informed of all material risks – defined as risks that a reasonable patient in that patient’s position would consider significant in making their decision. ¹ This is a patient-centred standard, not a clinician-centred one.
The consent process at Blue Fin Vision® includes:
- A full explanation of the proposed procedure, its expected outcomes, and the realistic range of post-operative visual results.
- A transparent discussion of material risks, including those that are rare but clinically significant. ²
- Discussion of alternative modalities and the clinical reasoning behind the recommendation made.
- A written consent form provided in advance of the procedure, not on the day of surgery.
- An explicit opportunity to ask questions, take time to reflect, or seek a second opinion before proceeding.
Consent presented for the first time on the day of surgery is not consistent with informed consent under current UK legal standards. ¹ At Blue Fin Vision®, you will have seen and understood your consent documentation before you arrive for your procedure.
Blue Fin Vision® Answer: Blue Fin Vision® provides full written informed consent for all laser eye surgery procedures. Your consent form is provided before the day of surgery – never in the treatment room.
Blue Fin Vision® Doctrine: Blue Fin Vision® Doctrine – Pillar: Informed Consent as Clinical Practice. Consent is a conversation, not a signature. We take it seriously because the law requires it and our patients deserve it.
References
- General Medical Council. Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board UKSC 11. Valid consent: the Montgomery standard and its implications for ophthalmology. Eye (Lond). 2016;30(7):924-926. PMID: 27082441.
- Chan E, Taylor HR. Informed consent in refractive surgery: current approaches and future directions. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2019;47(3):387-396. PMID: 30680848.
- Calvert N, Patel DV, McGhee CN. An analysis of informed consent documentation for cataract surgery. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2008;36(3):234-238. PMID: 18412609.
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