Many hospital patients in the UK are having their human rights violated while under anaesthetic, it has been claimed.
Writing in the Student British Medical Journal, medical ethics specialist Dr Gershon Grunfeld said that medical students are intimately examining unconscious patients without their approval.
"Performing intimate examinations on patients without their explicit consent is a gross violation of the principle of respect for patients’ autonomy," he said.
Current guidelines state that patients must give their permission before being examined in such a way, reports the Metro.
Dr Grunfeld found that the guidelines are often ignored, or are not fully understood, by medical staff and called for hospitals to establish procedures whereby patients can volunteer to help with teaching.
He also commented: "Medical students must put their responsibility towards patients before any learning opportunity."
Last year, it was also reported that the human rights of elderly patients were not being adequately protected in many hospitals and care homes.
Welsh ambulance service faces £6 million compensation claims
June 10th, 2008The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust is facing compensation claims of more than £6 million, it has been reported.
According to the Daily Post, the trust has set aside £6.5 million to deal with the claims, three of which are expected to result in exceed £1 million.
Most of the cases are believed to relate to personal injury claims resulting from road traffic accidents and injuries sustained during the course of duty, while a small number of claims were made following an assault.
A total of 13 of the outstanding cases being dealt with by the trust are for clinical negligence brought about by hospital patients.
Dave Galligan, head of health for Unison in Wales, commented: "I think people are more conscious about making a claim now if they have an accident at work. They tend to follow them up because so many can result in the end of people’s careers."
