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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think all mum to be should sign consent forms

56 replies

McHappyPants2012 · 23/02/2012 16:58

Over the last few weeks I have read quite a few threads where a labour ends up in an emergeny c-section.

I suspect a consent form would have to be signed, but wouldn't it make sense to have these forms filled in just incase, same with the eperdiral surly it would be more sense for these forms to be signed while a women is more calm and not facing an emergency or server pain

OP posts:
goatshavestrangeeyes · 23/02/2012 17:03

YANBU!

I had an emergency c section with ds and never signed a consent form beforehand (tbf they really didn't have time, was still in delivery room at 10am and they wheeled me down to theatre, got everything ready, knocked me out and delievered ds at 10.15am!)

Makes me think what position they would have been in if anything had gone wrong.

Trills · 23/02/2012 17:04

People who get hit by cars have treatment to save their lives without signing anything.

Psammead · 23/02/2012 17:08

I had one signed which covered epidural, various pain relief and general anasethetic. Can't spell. We're in Germany.

strawberrypenguin · 23/02/2012 17:08

Difficult. I would quiet happily have done this before by waters were broken (induction) and I did end up with epidural/forceps and I signed consent for a section if forceps didn't work. I could barely hold the pen with a cannula in my hand and didn't really read the paperwork properly (DH read it though).
However there are a lot of people who are very scared of any intervention and would probably refuse to sign before it was really necessary making the whole process harder for medical staff.

TheVermiciousKnid · 23/02/2012 17:08

But how can you actually consent to something until you are in the situation when it becomes a possibility/option/necessity?

In some situations I would consent to a caesarean without a second thought, but in others I would not necessarily consent.

vj32 · 23/02/2012 17:08

I had to sign the form to give consent, soon after they had put a drip in my writing hand. I did say that it would just be a squiggle. I then had to print my name underneath! Quite a challenge when you are in pain. I then had at least 2 people in the theatre confirm it was my signature.

Why not just have someone ask for your consent with a witness there and then they sign the form?

aldiwhore · 23/02/2012 17:09

I wouldn't have signed a consent form before labour because there was no way (no sirreee) I was going to have one.

However, at hour 27, I was begging for one (and needed one) even though it broke my heart (I don't have an issue in general with any CS/intervention etc., if needed its needed - don't even much care about elected CS) but I didn't get a form. DH was asked for HIS consent, but it was all verbal.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 23/02/2012 17:10

I signed the consent form as my bed was sped along the corridor to the theatre*

*operating, not the Old Vic Grin

DaisySteiner · 23/02/2012 17:12

You don't need to sign a consent form to give consent anyway, in an emergency verbal consent is OK if you are conscious and there's no time to sign anything and if you are not then they will do what is in your best interests anyway.

Also, a signed consent form is not necessarily proof of consent as you can withdraw consent at any time regardless.

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 23/02/2012 17:12

I've never had to sign to consent for anything in labour. The only thing I've ever had to sign a consent form for in a hospital is a nuclear lung scan, and tbh I think I only had to do that as I was pregnant and therefore had to sign to say I was aware of the risks. It would be madness to make people sign something 'just in case' and tbh I suspect that it would lead to far more intervention than necessary. Noone who needs emergancy treatment is going to be denied it while they faff around looking for a form for them to fill in.

RevoltingPeasant · 23/02/2012 17:13

Actually YABU I think.

Because someone who doesn't want intervention would then feel like there was a 'foot in the door' iyswim. I think you want to wait till it's time. If it comes to it they can get verbal consent with witnesses, surely.

DaisySteiner · 23/02/2012 17:13

Sorry, forgot to add: a consent form a procedure such as an operation is good practice but not legally required.

MissCoffeeNWine · 23/02/2012 17:13

I don't think having to listen to a long list of risks and side effects of possible procedures would be a very good addition to the labour process, no, especially when most of the time they will not be needed. I'd imagine entering a hospital in labour is bad enough without that. And how can you give consent in advance without knowing the situation? If you're all signed as you come in then you reach a situation where a HCP is saying something is necessary, but you don't agree, what then?

There are lots of times where an 'emergency' CS (in the unplanned sense) is one option, but there are many other decent options. I'd like to think they'd be explained and the decision made up to you, but if you'd already signed consent how would you know?

And where would this end? Universal consent? Covering the other most common childbirth surgery - episiotomy, for example? Even women in pain can scream consent or NO consent at the time - what would prior blanket consent actually solve?

FutureNannyOgg · 23/02/2012 17:14

No, because I would only consent to either under specific circumstances, I wouldn't give permission unless I was sure that it was the right choice for me at the time.
When I had my section I was told I could go then, or they could "see how things go" for another hour or so, given the circumstances I chose not to wait, but if I had pre-signed a form I might not have got that choice.

MrsWifty · 23/02/2012 17:17

My husband was so convinced the signature on my C-Section consent form was forged, he almost complained to the midwife, until I put him straight. But even though it bore no resemblance, it still did the job.

Do you mean so the adminny business of actually signing the form was taken care of, or so the decision was made in a calmer fashion? I suspect a lot of women change their minds halfway through. So it's a nice thought, but I think YABU.

Lulumama · 23/02/2012 17:17

YABU

can you imagine the potential issues of people consenting to medical procedures, just in case...

if it was such a dire emergency, then either verbal consent or consent of next of kin will be fine, rather than signing things before the situation arises

eurochick · 23/02/2012 17:17

No, because if and when I go into labour I want the outcome to be a natural birth and would therefore not consent to various interventions. If those interventions were to become medically necessary I would consent.

Idocrazythings · 23/02/2012 17:47

There are three types of consent- written, verbal and implied. By you allowing yourself to be wheeled to theatre put on the table etc; and agreeing to it (compared to someone kicking and screaming all the way down to the theatre "no"; that is consent; and in extenuating circumstances- ie saving your baby's life it is acceptable. A formal consent would then be obtained. They can't get you to pre-sign a "just incase" because there may be specifics you need to sign for that would only be apparant at the time. Plus mentally (I think) pre-signing would be starting to set yourself up for interventions and the like.

annalovesmrbates · 23/02/2012 18:15

Yanbu. I had spinal block and forceps in theatre. I was given forms to sign but couldn't read them as they had taken my glasses. DH read them and was happy but it felt and feels wrong to be consenting without reading the forms properly. I would prefered to have at least seen the form (poss with midwife at ante-natal check?) so that I could be in a position to sign on an informed basis if required.

annalovesmrbates · 23/02/2012 18:15

Yanbu. I had spinal block and forceps in theatre. I was given forms to sign but couldn't read them as they had taken my glasses. DH read them and was happy but it felt and feels wrong to be consenting without reading the forms properly. I would prefered to have at least seen the form (poss with midwife at ante-natal check?) so that I could be in a position to sign on an informed basis if required.

EasilyBored · 23/02/2012 18:19

When I was hysterical and refusing to let any of the staff touch me, I was told repeatedly by the consultant that they could not do anything (I needed forceps) without my express consent. I think verbal consent is fine in emergency situation. I couldnt have held a pen or read a form in the state I was in.

Hulababy · 23/02/2012 18:21

Signed mine for an epidural and then for a c section whilst under the influence of the various drugs I had had as pain relief, plus whilst completely exhausted after a 50 hours failed induction! By then I would have signed anything. I didn't read it!

AwkwardMary · 23/02/2012 18:28

I signed mine whilst I slipped in and out of conciousness! I remember thinking...oh this must be incase I die so nobody can sue them!

IUseTooMuchKitchenRoll · 23/02/2012 18:32

YABU. I wouldn't have signed until I knew it was 100% neccesary, and I would never know that until the time it was happening.

Fleurdebleurgh · 23/02/2012 18:34

I signed mine with an incredibly shaky 'X' .