Capacity and Consent

Question 1

What are the five elements for consent to be valid?

Answer 1

1. Capacity: patient must have capacity to give consent.
2. Voluntary: consent must be given voluntarily and freely, without pressure of undue influence being exerted on the person.
3. Informed: patient must receive sufficient information that they can understand about the treatment, including alternatives and any associated risks, so they can make a balanced decision.
4. Specific: consent must be specific to the situation.
5. Current: consent given in a particular circumstance cannot be used repeatedly if there are changed circumstances.