STEPS TO ENSURE PROPER INFORMED CONSENT TAKEN FROM PARENTS OF CHILDREN UNDERGOING MEDICAL PROCEDURES

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2248 
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 4 OCTOBER 2023

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Leong Mun Wai
Non-Constituency MP

Question No. 5033

To ask the Minister for Health what steps are currently taken to ensure that proper informed consent is taken from parents of children undergoing medical procedures.

Answer

1     The 2016 Singapore Medical Council Ethical Code and Ethical Guidelines sets out the components of informed consent for medical procedures involving minors. The relevant principles in the 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, the 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.

2     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 the ECEG.