Assessment of Informed Consent Practices Prior to Veterinary Surgical Procedures in Lagos State

Informed consent is a fundamental ethical and legal requirement in veterinary surgical practice that ensures client autonomy, professional accountability, and clarity of expectations before any invasive procedure is undertaken. This study assesses the current state of informed consent practices at veterinary clinics performing surgical procedures in Lagos State, South West Nigeria, with a focus on content adequacy, communication clarity, and documentation standards. A mixed-methods study comprising structured questionnaires administered to 48 veterinary surgeons and document review of consent forms from 22 facilities was conducted between April and December 2023. Client interviews were also conducted at 5 clinical sites. Formal written consent was obtained in only 54% of surveyed facilities, while 31% relied on verbal consent alone. Where written consent forms existed, 64% failed to include explicit information about anesthetic risks, alternative treatment options, or postoperative complication possibilities. Client comprehension of consent documentation was rated as low by 42% of interviewed clients, often attributed to technical language. Only 19% of consent forms were available in Yoruba or Pidgin English. Practitioners with postgraduate training were significantly more likely to employ comprehensive consent procedures. The study recommends the development of standardized, culturally sensitive veterinary consent forms in local languages, mandatory informed consent training in continuing professional development programs, and regulatory enforcement by the Veterinary Council of Nigeria. Keywords: informed consent, veterinary ethics, surgical consent, Lagos, professional standards.