Advice centre

Medical Protection explores the unique interplay between justice, patient autonomy and the law, as well as outlining the essential four principles of ethics.

Both legislation and the GMC’s guidance emphasise that doctors should presume that adults have the capacity to consent to or refuse a proposed treatment unless it can be established that they lack that capacity.

Consent is an individualised process based on respect – it is more than a signature on a form, says medicolegal adviser Dr Gordon McDavid

Dr Caroline Osborne-White, Medicolegal Consultant at Medical Protection, explains why it is worth joining the world’s leading medical defence organisation as early as possible in your medical career.