This Essential Guide was produced as a resource for Medical Protection members in the UK. It is intended as general guidance only.

Introduction

Consent is a fundamental principle of medical law. The basic rule is simple: no-one has the right to touch anyone else without lawful excuse and if doctors do so it may well undermine patients’ trust.

Such behaviour may lead to a clinical negligence claim, a complaint to the GMC or even civil or criminal proceedings for assault.

There are three components to valid consent:

Medical Protection members are always welcome to telephone our medicolegal advice line for more specific practical advice and support with medicolegal issues that may arise. Alternatively, members may  submit a medicolegal query online.
Click here to go to our medicolegal advice page.