Hospital doctors & specialists

Consent to treatment

Competent adult patients have a fundamental right to give or to withhold consent to treatment. This area of the site contains comprehensive and up to date information about consent and includes guidance on specific issues such as treating children and adults who may lack the capacity to consent.

Questions and answers

• Intimate search of a prisoner - 13 November 2002
• Consent for a stomach washout - 13 November 2002
• Testing donors for HIV antibodies - 13 November 2002
• Consent for blood test - 13 November 2002
• Should I warn of wisdom tooth extraction risk? - 23 October 2002
• View all (13)

Advice articles

• Incapacity and the law in Scotland - 27 November 2009
• Medical Council ring the changes - 25 November 2009
• Consent and young patients - 16 November 2009
• New Medical Council guidance on consent - 28 April 2009
• NPSA endorses WHO Surgical Safety checklist - 11 February 2009
• View all (38)

Case histories

• Patient request for cessation of ventilation - 15 November 2006
• Failed vasectomy - 1 October 2003
• Compensatory hyperhidrosis after sympathectomy - 1 March 2003
• Same day radial keratotomy - 1 January 2002
• Refusal to pay - 1 January 2002
• View all (10)

Advice calls

• Ring of confidence - 1 December 2007
• Chaperones - 1 December 2007
• Wanting to die? - 19 December 2006
• Advance refusal of an epidural - 13 November 2002
• Should GP's arrange paternity testing? - 1 October 2000
• View all (11)