The Joint Commission revises requirements for informed consent, AV information

Editor's Note

The Joint Commission, on January 12, announced that revisions to the Rights and Responsibilities of the Individual (RI) chapter addressing the written policy on informed consent and organizational use of images, films, and recording of patients will become effective July 1, 2022.

Among the revisions:

• A new bullet has been added to Standard RI.01.03.01 EP 1 that requires organizational policies to include who is qualified under law and regulation to conduct informed consent discussions.
• For ambulatory healthcare organizations, the bullet stating, “Circumstances that would allow for exceptions to obtaining informed consent,” will be deleted from RI.01.03.01 EP 1 because organizational policies should already address such circumstances.
• Standard RI.01.03.01 EP 3, which requires organizations to obtain informed consent before making and using recordings, films, or other patient images, will be replaced with a new EP at Standard RI.01.01.01 that addresses issues related to protecting patients’ rights.

The Joint Commission says it will continue to evaluate compliance with federal and state requirements.