Audit of Consent Practices for Surgical Procedures at Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja

Informed consent is a cornerstone of ethical surgical practice, ensuring that patients understand the nature, risks, and alternatives to proposed procedures before agreeing to treatment. This study audits the quality of informed consent practices for elective and emergency surgical procedures at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, in 2023. A prospective audit reviewed 200 surgical consent forms and conducted structured interviews with 120 patients who had recently undergone surgery. Consent quality indicators assessed included documentation of risks, alternatives, patient questions, and voluntary agreement. Patient comprehension was tested using a validated questionnaire. Full documentation of key consent elements was achieved in only 44% of cases. Patient recall of explained risks was low, with only 31% able to recall at least one major complication discussed. Consent was obtained on the day of surgery in 67% of cases, limiting time for reflection. Language barriers between surgeons and patients were reported by 19% of interviewees. The study recommends standardized consent forms with pictographic aids, consent discussions in advance of the day of surgery, and interpreter services for non-English-speaking patients at FMC Lokoja and comparable institutions in North Central Nigeria. Keywords: informed consent, surgical ethics, consent documentation, FMC Lokoja, patient autonomy