Patient Consent For Medical Treatment

RECOMMENDED

The following Guideline Booklets are worthy to note:-

• Booklet 4: Seeking patients’informed consent: The ethical considerations
• Booklet 1: General ethical guidelines for health care professions
• Booklet 3: National Patients’ Rights Charter

The following are elements of informed consent:

• Consent must be voluntary and without constraint;
• Consent should preferably be written, although consent may be implied;
• Consent must not conflict with good morals or the Constitution;
• The patient must be capable of consenting;
• The patient must give the consent personally, unless proxy consent is applicable;
• There should be sufficient information on the diagnosis, proposed treatment, expected benefits, risks, alternative treatment, probable results, etc.