Sedation in under 19s: using sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures

Person-centred care

In the NHS, patients and healthcare professionals have rights and responsibilities as set out in the NHS Constitution (www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-nhs-constitution-for-england). All NICE guidance is written to reflect these. Children and young people who are having sedation and their parents and carers (where appropriate) have the right to be involved in discussions and make informed decisions about treatment and care with the healthcare team. Their choices are important and healthcare professionals should support these wherever possible. All patients and their parents and carers should be treated with dignity and respect.

To help children and young people, and their parents and carers where appropriate, to make decisions, healthcare professionals should explain sedation. They should cover possible benefits and risks related to the personal circumstances of the child or young person. Children and young people, and their parents and carers, should be given relevant information that is suitable for them and reflects any religious, ethnic, or cultural needs they have. It should also take into account whether they have any physical or learning disability, sight or hearing problem or language difficulties. They should have access to an interpreter or advocate (someone who helps you put your views across) if needed.

If the child or young person is under 16, their parents or carers will need to agree to their treatment, unless it is clear that the child fully understands the treatment and can give consent.

When parents and carers are involved they should be able to discuss or review their child's care. As treatment progresses, or circumstances change, it is possible for children and young people (or, where appropriate, their parents and carers) to change their mind about treatment or care.

All treatment and care should be given with the patient's informed consent. If, during the course of their illness, they are not able to make decisions about their care, their healthcare professionals have a duty to talk to their family or carers unless they have specifically asked them not to. Healthcare professionals should follow the Department of Health's advice on consent (www.gov.uk/government/publications/reference-guide-to-consent-for-examination-or-treatment-second-edition) and the code of practice for the Mental Capacity Act. Information about the Act and consent issues is available from www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/legal. In Wales healthcare professionals should follow advice on consent from the Welsh Government (www.wales.nhs.uk/consent).

In an emergency, if the person with parental responsibility cannot be contacted, healthcare professionals may give treatment immediately when it is in the child or young person's best interests.