新加坡卫生部长：正在研究未成年精神病患者知情同意程序

议员叶汉荣先生（杨厝港选区）问卫生部长：

（a）卫生部如何确保精神健康状况治疗的知情同意程序的合理合法性？包括是否需要住院治疗，符合道德、具有适应性，尊重患者的自主权，并优先考虑患者的福祉；

（b）当患者是未成年人时，在父母或监护人缺乏理解或者父母和监护人本身是造成患者精神健康问题的原因的情况下，如何应用知情同意程序？

（c）是否会为精神健康护理制定具体的知情同意指导原则？

卫生部长王乙康：

在医疗实践中，知情同意是患者和临床医生共同决策的过程。临床医生提供医疗信息，患者行使其自主权来做出治疗决策。这些原则适用于精神健康治疗和服务。

政府收到反馈称，对21岁以下儿童和青少年而言，需要征得父母同意可能会阻碍他们获取精神健康支持。卫生部正在研究这些反馈。

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health (a) how will the Ministry ensure that informed consent procedures for the treatment of mental health conditions including whether institutionalisation is needed, are ethical, adaptable and respect patient autonomy while prioritising their well-being; (b) how do informed consent procedures apply in situations where patients are minors or where parents or guardians lack understanding or are the cause of the mental health issues; and (c) whether specific guidelines will be developed for informed consent in mental health care.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: Consent in medical practice is a shared decision-making process by both the patient and clinician. The clinician provides medical information and the patient exercises his autonomy to make decisions about his treatment. These principles apply to mental health treatment and services. 

The Government received feedback that the need for parental consent for children and youths below 21 years old may hinder their access to mental health support. MOH is studying this feedback.