§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) who is responsible for informing a patient when cancer treatment has been carried out on them for conditions that were subsequently diagnosed as benign; [22593]
(2) who is responsible for informing patients that treatments have been carried out on them without prior diagnostic confirmation of their condition. [22584]
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) who is responsible for issuing guidelines in respect of the circumstances in which laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy for endometrial cancer may be attempted; and to what extent such guidelines are available to(a) patients, (b) members of the public and (c) Parliament; [22596]
(2) who is responsible for issuing guidelines relating to procedures involving radical cancer surgery to the vulva; and to what extent these guidelines are accessible to (a) patients, (b) the public and (c) Parliament. [22552]
§ Mr. HoramDevelopment of clinical guidelines for patient treatment is done by the relevant professional body. Guidelines can be made available to patients, members of the public—as potential future patients—and Parliament on request.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the clinical audit of laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomies by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; and how many such hysterectomies have been carried out(a) in total and (b) in the circumstances of endometrial uterine cancer. [22651]
§ Mr. HoramThe Department of Health is funding a joint study by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists medical audit unit and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The vaginal, abdominal or laparoscopic uterine excision hysterectomy study will compare the long-term outcome of hysteroscopic surgery as opposed to conventional hysterectomy. The total number of vaginal hysterectomies in 1993–94 was 14,141. It is not possible separately to identify laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomies within that total. Neither is it possible to identify the number undertaken for endometriauterine cancer.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what requirements are placed on doctors to confirm diagnosis of conditions and diseases by objective tests before asking patients for consent to undergo treatment; [22554]
659W(2) what guidelines his Department issues to doctors requiring them to confirm diagnosis of cancer by objective tests before asking patients for consent to radical surgery. [22583]
§ Mr. HoramDevelopment of clinical guidelines for the management of patients is done by the relevant professional body. Confirming the diagnosis by appropriate investigation would be encompassed in such clinical guidelines and is part of the general duty of care.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances a patient's consent may be deemed to be invalidly given. [22585]
§ Mr. HoramIn normal circumstances, patients need to be able to make a balanced judgment before giving valid consent to treatment. They should therefore receive sufficient information to enable them to understand the proposed treatment, the possible alternatives and any substantial risks.