Medical students and informed consent-response to "Consent for Teaching"

The authors of this letter are currently engaged in revising "Medical Students and informed consent: A consensus statement prepared by the Faculties of Medical and Health Science of the Universities of Auckland and Otago, Chief Medical Officers of District Health Boards, New Zealand Medical Students' Association and the Medical Council of New Zealand".1 We disagree with Dr Gray's2 proposal that the consensus statement1 is flawed. Gray argues the consensus statement is couched in ethical terms that prioritise patient autonomy, which is inconsistent with the approach of balancing the quadruple aim of quality medical practice.3 The quadruple aim encompasses improving population health, patient experience, healthcare team wellbeing and reduced costs.3 What Gray does not acknowledge is the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights,4 as set out in the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994,5 is the law in Aotearoa New Zealand. [...]the consensus statement on medical students and informed consent was written to reflect the law in the most pragmatic way possible. [...]informed shared decision making will result in better patient outcomes, reduced costs, improved population health, patient experience and team wellbeing-the process of obtaining consent, done well, is consistent with the quadruple aim of quality medical practice and has the potential to enhance it.