§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her Department's definition of informed consent under her Department's guidance for dealing with patients, in the context of women consenting to an abortion.
§ Mr. SackvillePatients have the right under common law to give or withhold consent prior to examination or treatment. Informed consent as such does not form part of English law. Patients are, however, entitled to receive sufficient information in a way that they can understand about the proposed treatment, the possible alternatives and any substantial risks, so that they can make a balanced judgment. A doctor will exercise his or her professional skill and judgment in deciding what information a patient is given about a particular treatment.
This principle applies to all forms of treatment, including abortion.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions exist for reporting physical complications following abortions which occur after the form notifying her Department of the abortion has been submitted.
§ Mr. SackvilleThere is no formal procedure for reporting complications occurring after an abortion has been notified to the Chief Medical Officer, but doctors can provide additional information.
§ Mrs. GormanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if charities providing abortion services for the NHS through agency agreements with individual district health authorities may also enter into agency agreements with individual GP fund holders; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleTerminations of pregnancy are not included in the list of goods and services which GP fund holders may purchase. We have no plans at present to change this.