Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together

Other sources of information and guidance

All GMC guidance can be found on our List of Ethical Guidance web page.

• General
• Communication and Information
• Discussing Risk
• Capacity Issues
• Mental Health

General

Reference guide to consent for examination or treatment (Department of Health)

Reference guide to consent for examination, treatment or care (Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety NI, 2003) (154kb, pdf)

Reference Guide for Consent to Examination or Treatment (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008)

A Good Practice Guide on Consent for Health Professionals in NHS Scotland (Scottish Executive Health Department, 2006) (205kb, pdf)

Communication and Information

Better information, better choices, better health: Putting information at the centre of health (Department of Health, 2004)

NHS Toolkit for producing patient information (Department of Health, 2003) (771kb, pdf)

Supporting people with long-term conditions to self care (Department of Health, 2006)

Discussing Risk

Raising the Standard: Information for Patients (Royal College of Anaesthetists, February 2003)

Project: Explaining the risks and benefits of treatment options (Royal College of Physicians, Patient Involvement Unit, 2004–2006)

Consent in cardiac surgery: a good practice guide to agreeing and recording consent (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Society for Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, 2005)

Capacity Issues

Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice

Code of Practice for persons authorised to carry out medical treatment or research under Part 5 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (114kb, pdf)

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 Guidance for health professionals (British Medical Association, 2007)

Medical treatment for adults with incapacity: guidance on ethical and medico-legal issues in Scotland (British Medical Association, 2002)

Guidance for Local Authorities: Provision of community care services to adults with incapacity (Scottish Executive, March 2007) (860kb, pdf)

Mental Health

Consent to treatment: A guide for mental health practitioners (Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland) (276kb, pdf)

What is the relationship between the Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act 1983?, Chapter 13, Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice (1.24 mb, pdf)