Oral Health | Clinical and Risk Asessment | An introduction to consent

An introduction to consent
Session overview
Description
Dental treatment cannot proceed without the consent of the patient. This session is an introduction to the basic concepts of the law on consent for dental treatment.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• explain the legal basis and GDC guidance for consent
• describe the requirements for a valid consent
• describe the consent process for a child
• explain the consent process in an incompetent adult or adult with partial capacity
• list the possible consequences of a failure to obtain a valid consent

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you can look at:

• Department of Health guidance: 'Reference Guide to Consent for Examination and Treatment' View link
• General Dental Council Standards View document

The legal basis and General Dental Council (GDC) requirement for consent for treatment will be described in this session. Consent may be defined as:

"The voluntary and continuing permission of the patient to receive a particular treatment.
It must be based upon adequate knowledge of the purpose, nature and likely effects and risks of that treatment, including the likelihood of its success and any alternatives to it [1](read details regarding the reference)."

Dental treatment cannot proceed without the permission of the patient except in rare circumstances. This permission is the consent for treatment.

Treatment without consent is a crime (of battery). Battery is rarely raised as a concern because a claim in negligence, if successful, will produce a financial settlement for the patient.