Policy purpose

To ensure that informed consent is gained from every pa ent and to set out the procedure

for achieving this by every clinician.

Procedure:

Ensure the patient has the capacity to understand explanations and to give their informed consent.

If the patient does not have capacity, identify an appropriate representative who can do so, and ensure you are working in the patient’s best interest.

Understand that you are working within your own scope of practice.

The treating clinician is responsible for ensuring that there is informed consent for any treatment intervention, and for delivering adequate explanations that ensure the patient’s understanding.

Each treatment intervention must be explained in full, with all benefits and potential risks, and the patient given the opportunity to decline treatment at all junctures. This may require an interpreter for some patients.

The information given to the patient can be delivered verbally or in written format and recorded on the patient notes. Patient agreement can be obtained, but this is not mandatory.