[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42808-42809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16177]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900-0583]


Proposed Information Collection Activity: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is announcing an 
opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain 
information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 
1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 
days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits 
comments on the disclosure requirements imposed on non-VA physicians to 
insure that patients have sufficient information to

[[Page 42809]]

provide educated and informed consent for medical procedures.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed collection 
of information should be received on or before September 14, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the collection of information to 
Ann Bickoff, Veterans Health Administration (193B1), Department of 
Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420 or e-
mail [email protected]. Please refer to ``OMB Control No. 2900-
0583'' in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Bickoff at (202) 273-8310.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 
U.S.C., 3501-3521), Federal agencies must obtain approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of 
information they conduct or sponsor. This request for comment is being 
made pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA.
    With respect to the following collection of information, VHA 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for the proper performance of VHA's functions, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of VHA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on respondents, including through the use 
of automated collection techniques or the use of other forms of 
information technology.
    Title: Regulation for Informed Consent for Patient Care (Title 38 
CFR 17.32).
    OMB Control Number: 2900-0583.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: VA informed consent regulation describes patient rights 
and responsibilities and the process for obtaining informed consent. It 
contains procedures that providers (including non-VA physicians who 
contract to perform services for VA on a fee-basis) must follow when 
seeking informed consent from a VA beneficiary (e.g., discussion of the 
benefits, risk and alternatives for the recommended treatment or 
procedure and documentation of the patient's decision). The information 
provided is designed to ensure that the patients (or, when appropriate, 
the patient's representative or surrogate) have sufficient information 
to provide informed consent.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 94,000 hours.
    Estimated Average Burden Per Respondent: 15 minutes.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 376,000.

    Dated: July 6, 2004.

    By direction of the Secretary
Loise Russell,
 Director, Records Management Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16177 Filed 7-15-04; 8:45 am]
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