• Bronchoscopy
• risk

We read with interest the article by Uzbeck et al1 demonstrating increased patient anxiety upon receiving detailed information regarding complications of bronchoscopy, in addition to the letter by Echavarria et al2 documenting the consenting practices of 33 respiratory physicians in the north east of England. A wide variation in practice is identified. The General Medical Council guidance for doctors relating to consent3 indicates that a physician ‘must tell patients if an investigation… might result in a serious adverse outcome, even if the likelihood is very small’. An adverse outcome is defined as one ‘resulting in death, permanent or long term …