Consent

Cards (6)

  • What is consent?

    -Consent is the voluntary agreement or permission given by an individual to undergo a specific procedure or treatment-This is After being adequately informed about its nature, potential risks/benefits, alternatives and all other relevant information that allows the individual to make an informed decision.
  • What do the essential elements of consent include?(1)
    • Voluntariness:
    Patient should be free from influence or coercion.
    • Capacity:
    Patient must have the mental and legal capacity to understand the information given and come to an informed decision.
    • Include all necessary Information:
    The patient must receive complete and comprehensive information of the treatment including risks/benefits, purpose, nature and alternative options.
    • Understanding:
    The patient should understand the information given in order to make an informed decision.
  • What do the essential elements of consent include? (2)
    • Autonomy:
    The patient has the right to make their own decisions regarding their own treatment and have the right to refuse or withdraw their consent at any time.
    • Documentation:
    Consent should be fully and comprehensively documented, including any discussions, concerns, information provided, type of consent and whether the patient agreed to or refused the treatment.
  • After giving the patient all the necessary information regarding their treatment, what should you do?
    • Give the patient time.
    Patient should be given reasonable amount of time to consider the information and make a decision.
    • Reconfirm consent with the patient
    Do this immediately before treatment.
  • When choosing to proceed with treatment, what should you consider?
    -Available time
    -Patient’s specific needs
    -Oral health status
    -Evidence for proposed treatment
    -Care plan
    -You have received informed consent (written/verbal but should always be documented).
  • Building foundations for optimal treatment outcomes
    • Explain disease, risk factors & tx alternatives, risks & benefits including no tx.
    • Explain importance of OH, encourage + support behaviour change for improvement.
    • Reduce risk factors - remove plaque retentive features, smoking cessation and diabetes control interventions.
    • Provide individually tailored OH advice - interdental cleaning, + / - toothpaste & mouthwash, + /- PMPR including supra and subgingival scaling of the clinical crown.
    • Select recall period following published guidance and considering risk factors like smoking and diabetes.