Where possible, a clinician must be satisfied that a patient understands and consents to a proposed treatment, immunisation or investigation.
The clinician must also ensure that other possible treatment options, including the risks and benefits of each, have been explained to the patient before the patient makes their decision to consent.
We want all our patients to be able to make valid consent decisions about the care they will receive from us. There are two types of consent for treatment:
Implied Consent
Implied consent will be assumed for many routine physical contacts. Where implied consent is to be assumed by the clinician, the following will apply:
- An explanation will be given to you what doctor, nurse or healthcare assistant is about to do, and why.
- The explanation must be sufficient for you to understand the procedure.
In all cases where the patient is under 18 years of age, a verbal confirmation of consent will be obtained and entered into the medical record.
Where there is a significant risk to the patient an ‘Expressed Consent’ will be obtained in all cases.
Expressed Consent
Expressed consent (written or verbal) will be obtained for any procedure which carries a risk that you are likely to consider as being substantial.
A note will be made in your medical record detailing the discussion about the consent and the risks.
A consent form may be used for the patient to express consent.