Consent to investigation: an empirical study of information and consent processes in gastroscopy

Many of the cases concerned with inadequate consent occurred some time after the intervention. In addition to an initial misunderstanding of explanations about an intervention, the recall of patients (as well as that of clinicians) may be suspect. The use of a standard test in this study allowed the decline in memory of information about the intervention to be measured formally. The view that interventions are of major concern to patients, so they will vividly recall details, may not be correct.