Consent
Today, patients are better informed, more demanding and want to be more closely involved with their treatment. Good consent helps this process, ensuring that the doctor–patient relationship is based on confidence and trust.
Good consent relies on a total respect for patient autonomy as far as the patient’s capacity will allow. It is not just about getting a signature on a consent form.
For consent to be valid:
- The patient should be informed
- The patient should be competent
- Consent must be given voluntarily.
In this edition of GP Trainee we look at some of the issues that will be of particular interest to you as you begin your career in general practice.
We welcome your feedback and would love to hear about any medicolegal issues you’d like to see on these pages.
Send your comments to gptrainee@mps.org.uk or call us on 1800 509 441.
Sarah Whitehouse
Editor