Negotiating consent for treatment course for Dental Practitioners
Consent for treatment is a legal requirement involving a detailed explanation of the diagnosis and treatment options. Practitioners must be able to negotiate consent according to the guidance issued by the General Dental Council.
Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:
- describe best practice in obtaining consent to treatment
- explain why 'information', 'capacity' and 'voluntariness' are key concepts, and how they can be applied
- list the patient communication methods used by practitioners
- describe the key information that should be included on a consent form
- explain the risk of not seeking consent and embarking on complex treatment immediately
Patients have a right to determine what happens to their body. Patients are autonomous individuals and that right must be respected by healthcare professionals.
Before commencing this session you should:
- have completed the e-Den session 1 Patient assessment/Good practice/An introduction to consent
- be familiar with the General Dental Council Standards relating to consent, and the Department of Health 'Reference Guide to Consent for Examination and Treatment'
Stephen is a full time dento-legal adviser for Dental Protection Ltd. He is also a Specialist in Oral Surgery. He qualified in 1984 and worked in fulltime hospital practice until 1989. Between 1989 and 2000, he worked part-time in the Oral and Maxillofacial Unit in Oxford. He had his own practice which he started in 1991, which was a mixture of general and referral practice. He obtained a Masters degree in Medical Law in 2005.
Stephen is also part of the Module Editorial Team at e-Den, and is the Module Editor for Module 10 Communication, and Module 11 Professionalism.
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