Obtaining consent for surgical, investigative and interventional procedures is an integral part of being a doctor who is involved in either requesting or performing them. It requires knowledge not only of the procedure involved, but also the ability to assess competence and therefore obtain valid consent from the appropriate person. Disclosure of information must be appropriate and transparent between all parties involved. This is particularly important when considering issues around consent in children's surgical practice.
Melissa Short MRCS Specialist Registrar Paediatric Surgery at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Conflicts of interest: none declared
Ian Willetts FRCS (Paed Surg) FRCS (Eng) Consultant Paediatric Surgeon/Urologist & Clinical Lecturer at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Conflicts of interest: none declared
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