ABSTRACT

An understanding of the law and the way in which it impacts upon roles, responsibilities and care is a vital component in everyday healthcare. The law of consent is particularly complex, and its inadvertent misinterpretation, misapplication or maladministration by health professionals has led to an increasing number of legal claims for compensation. This book explains the legal issues around consent to treatment in England and Wales simply and straightforwardly. It uses real-life examples to set out the professional obligations, basic principles of consent and detailed information on each area, enabling health professional to approach consent methodically and to ensure that it is validly obtained and recorded. 'Explains the complexities of consent in a practical and straightforward way making a difficult and often complex subject easy to understand. In addition it is a useful handbook that health professionals at all levels can refer to as an everyday text to help guide them through the intricacies of the topic.' - From the Foreword by Colum J Smith 'This book is invaluable to health care professionals and could help prevent them from attending court defending the care they have inadvertently provided.' - From the Foreword by Sue Battersby 'A very useful book for healthcare professionals of all kinds to refer to' - From the Foreword by Louise M Terry

chapter 1|2 pages

Introduction to consent

chapter 2|13 pages

The legal process

chapter 3|11 pages

Accountability

chapter 4|7 pages

The basic principles of consent

chapter 5|7 pages

Scope of consent

chapter 6|8 pages

Refusing and withdrawing treatment

chapter 7|2 pages

Relatives’ rights

chapter 8|6 pages

Forms of consent

chapter 9|14 pages

Informed consent

chapter 10|6 pages

Documenting consent

chapter 11|35 pages

Consent: children and young persons

chapter 13|19 pages

Consent and removal of tissue

chapter 14|8 pages

Research and innovative treatment

chapter 15|7 pages

Withholding and withdrawing treatment

chapter 16|3 pages

Acting in an emergency

chapter 17|46 pages

Capacity

chapter 18|8 pages

Advance decisions and advance statements

chapter 20|2 pages

Cultural and religious beliefs

chapter 21|4 pages

Applications to court