To give informed consent, you need to be given enough information to make decisions about your health and proposed treatments.
Your doctor must:
If you agree to the treatment, your doctor may ask you to sign a consent form. This gives them legal permission to treat you.
Watch our video about informed consent in healthcare.
You must be legally capable to give consent.
This means you understand all the information your doctor has given you about your condition and proposed treatment. You must also be able to communicate your decision to your doctor.
If it’s an emergency, a health professional or a family member may need to consent to emergency treatment on your behalf.
If you’re over 18 you can give consent unless you have a mental illness or disability that affects your legal capacity. If you’re unconscious another person, such as your doctor or family member, will also have to make decisions and give consent on your behalf.
If you’re under 18, your parent, guardian or carer will usually need to give consent for you. You may be able to give consent yourself if you understand your condition, and everything about the recommended treatment.
You can give informed consent verbally or in writing.
For example, consenting verbally would include your GP recommending a type of medicine and with your agreement, giving you a prescription.
For more complex procedures or treatments, such as surgery, your doctor will ask you to sign a consent form.
You can ask your doctor or surgeon anything about the treatment or procedure they’re recommending. If you don’t understand something, you can ask them to explain it again. You can also have a friend, family member or support person with you.
Questions to ask may include:
If you're deaf, hard of hearing or would like to use a language other than English, we have free interpreters who can go to your appointments with you.
You can change your mind at any time, even if you've signed a consent form or agreed to have tests or treatment.