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  5. Consent

Consent

Obtaining valid consent is essential to respect a patient’s autonomy and rights. Treating a patient without proper consent is usually unlawful and can lead to legal claims or professional misconduct investigations.

Overview

Consent can only be given by someone who is competent, meaning they can understand, retain, and use information about their treatment, and communicate their decision. You must ensure the patient understands the risks and common consequences of the proposed treatment.

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