Consent in psychology

 Having a patient’s consent is important as every person has the right to say what happens to their own body. This right comes under the Rules of Professional Conduct and the Core Standards of Physiotherapy Practice and the patient is also protected by the law, you can be charged “battery” under civil or criminal law if you have not asked the patient before examining. It is common courtesy to ask before you examine, touch or care for a patient, this is for every time that you treat the patient. Patients can withdraw consent at anytime.

Bailliere’s nurses dictionary (2007) states that consent is in the law, voluntary agreement with an action proposed by another. Consent is an act of reason; the person giving consent must be of sufficient mental capacity and in possession of all essential information in order to give valid and informed consent. (Weller, 2007)  

There are three requirements for a patient or individual to have a valid consent. The patient must have capacity to consent, so they have to be mentally competent. The consent must be voluntary. Also the patient must have received sufficient information to make a decision about their treatment. (The chartered society of physiotherapy, 2005)

References

• The Charted Society of Physiotherapy, 2005, London

Available from:  [Accessed May 1 2009]

• DoH (Department of Health)., 2001a. Reference Guide to Consent for Examination or Treatment. London:HMSO.
• DoH (Department of Health)., 2001b. Good Practice in Consent: Achieving the NHS Plan Commitment to Patient-Centred Consent Practice. London:HMSO.
• Hogston, R. and Marjoram, B, A., 2007. Foundations of nursing practice, leading the way. 3rd ed. Hampshire:Palgrave Macmillan.
• Weller, B, F., 2005. Bailliẻre’s Nurses Dictionary, for Nurses and Health Care Workers. 24th ed. England:Elsevier Limited.