Table 5.

Recognition of and guidelines for informed consent in nephrology

United States

Renal Physicians Association guidelines (4)

CMS Conditions for Coverage state that patients in renal units have a basic right to informed consent that is entrusted to the medical director of the dialysis facility (48)

The American Society of Nephrology in conjunction with the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation’s “Choosing Wisely” campaign recommend that nephrologists “not initiate chronic dialysis without ensuring a shared decision-making process between patients, their families, and their physician” (49)

The American Medical Association (50)

United Kingdom

Department of Health guidelines on informed consent (51)

Canada

One of the “key and enabling” competencies of trainees in nephrology is the ability to obtain an informed consent (52)

Australasia

In Australasia, the Caring for Australasians with Renal Impairment guidelines for nephrology practice emphasize the importance of an informed consent to dialysis (53)

In Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines on the provision of information to patients (54)

The Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology Renal Supportive Care guidelines 2013 have chapters on prognosis, the law, and the ethics of dialysis (55)

New Zealand has a statutory regime governing informed consent (26)

Republic of Ireland

Irish Medical Council guidelines to physicians on informed consent (56)

CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.