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On 16 February 2016, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published guidance for adult health and social care professionals to support the rights of people who use health and social services, in particular vulnerable people in their care, and to assist them to make informed decisions and to live more independent lives. HIQA has also issued a leaflet promoting autonomy, which is available for people or families using health and social care services. This will be sent to health and social care providers, including general practitioners (GPs), for distribution to the public.
In announcing the guidance, Marie Kehoe-O’Sullivan, HIQA’s Director of Safety and Quality Improvement, said: “The purpose of this autonomy guidance is to help services demonstrate how they show respect for human dignity, how they provide person-centred care, and how they ensure an informed consent process that values personal choice and decision-making. By ensuring that people’s autonomy is respected, service providers will improve the quality of care, safety and quality of life of people who use their services”.
For a full copy of the press release and the guidance document, please click here.