Consent guidance: Sharing information

1. 18. How you discuss a patient’s diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options is often as important as the information itself. You should:
   
   
   1. a. share information in a way that the patient can understand and, whenever possible, in a place and at a time when they are best able to understand and retain it
   2. b. give information that the patient may find distressing in a considerate way
   3. c. involve other members of the healthcare team in discussions with the patient, if appropriate⁶
   4. d. give the patient time to reflect, before and after they make a decision, especially if the information is complex or what you are proposing involves significant risks
   5. e. make sure the patient knows if there is a time limit on making their  decision, and who they can contact in the healthcare team if they have any questions or concerns.
2. 19. You should give information to patients in a balanced way. If you recommend a particular treatment or course of action, you should explain your reasons for doing so. But you must not put pressure on a patient to accept your advice.
3. 20. You may need to support your discussions with patients by using written material, or visual or other aids. If you do, you must make sure the material is accurate and up to date.
4. 21. You should check whether the patient needs any additional support to understand information, to communicate their wishes, or to make a decision. You should bear in mind that some barriers to understanding and communication may not be obvious; for example, a patient may have unspoken anxieties, or may be affected by pain or other underlying problems. You must make sure, wherever practical, that arrangements are made to give the patient any necessary support. This might include, for example: using an advocate or interpreter; asking those close to the patient about the patient’s communication needs; or giving the patient a written or audio record of the discussion and any decisions that were made.