Consent to treatment is a person’s agreement for a health professional to proceed with a specific proposed treatment. Consent is sought after communicating with the patient about the proposed treatment. Consent will be valid if it is:
- Voluntary - the decision to either consent or not to consent to the proposed treatment must be made by the patient themselves, and must not be unduly influenced by health professionals, friends or family
- Informed – the patient must receive sufficient information about the proposed treatment to enable them to make an informed decision
- Given by a patient who has capacity to understand the information presented to them and to make a decision. Capacity may be diminished by illness, age, medication, drugs and alcohol
- Current – consent must be reviewed if, after consent was obtained, the patient’s circumstances (including treatment options and risks) have changed
- Covers the treatment to be performed – treatment must fall within the scope of consent that has been given by the patient
See the WA Health Consent to Treatment Policy for more details.
More information
Patient Safety and Clinical Quality
Email: eopp@health.wa.gov.au
Last reviewed: 23-07-2020
Produced by
Patient Safety and Clinical Quality