Steps to Ensure Proper Informed Consent Taken from Parents of Children Undergoing Medical Procedures

Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Health what steps are currently taken to ensure that proper informed consent is taken from parents of children undergoing medical procedures.

The 2016 Singapore Medical Council Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines (ECEG) set out the components of informed consent for medical procedures involving minors. The relevant principles in ECEG are consistent with international best practice standards, including having parents or legal guardians being adequately informed about the risks and benefits involved in a particular procedure. At the same time, ECEG also makes clear that if a parent or legal guardian objects to a procedure that is medically necessary, the doctor must act in the best interest of the child and not the parent or legal guardian.

Separately, each licensed provider under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 must also establish and implement an appropriate system to obtain informed consent that is in line with prevailing laws and ECEG.