What is consent to medical treatment? Healthcare professionals must obtain consent before they examine or treat a patient. This means that a patient must expressly agree to the treatment. This not only applies to surgical treatment but also to more minor procedures such as taking blood samples. If a medical professional treated a patient who had not provided consent this may amount to an assault.
Consent must be both informed and voluntary, and medical professionals must ensure that the patient has been given all the relevant information regarding what the treatment involves, including information on any risks or alternative treatments. In addition, the patient's decision to consent to treatment must be made independently and free from duress.
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