Consent To Treatment

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Before a doctor, nurse or therapist can examine or treat a patient, they need his or her consent. Most people with learning disabilities are perfectly capable of consenting to treatment, and to being examined (which also requires consent) . If there is any doubt, the person proposing treatment must make a judgement about the capacity of the patient to consent to treatment each time a decision is needed.

Under English Law, no one can sign a consent form on behalf of another adult. If a patient is unable to give consent doctors, nurses and therapists are generally allowed to provide treatment which they believe is in their patient's best interests .

The Department of Health issued extensive new guidelines on consent during 2001, including some specifically for people with learning disabilities.

For more information telephone NHS Response Line
 08701 555 455
or go to  http://www.doh.gov.uk

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