Consent to medical treatment : Course Aim

Course aim and introduction

CONSENT - be INFOrMED is a specialist medico-legal resource on consent to treatment that has been designed specifically for healthcare professionals.

The overall aim of the resource is to provide you with the necessary knowledge of the law concerning consent to treatment, with the objective of reducing the possibility of litigation claims being brought against you.

It specifically provides information about:

the current law surrounding patient consent to treatment
the consequences of not obtaining patient consent to treatment
the issues surrounding minors and their consent to treatment
the treatment of patients who are lacking capacity
the ethical issues surrounding the use of new or experimental treatments
end of life decision making

The resource is structured into four modules that provide current information about the law surrounding consent to treatment and its specific application to those involved in patient care. Each module has a comprehensive list of learning objectives to help you to make sure that you grasp the important principles.

Descriptions of specialist legal terminology are displayed to you by means of an interactive glossary.

As you work through the resource, your grasp of the principles can be tested and improved by spending some time thoughtfully considering the problem scenarios. We strongly urge you to discuss the problem scenarios with your colleagues.

You can test your knowledge at the end of each module by using the self-test multiple-choice questions. Use this tool to guide you to the areas you should focus on.

Where modules refer to documentation, either from the Department of Health or other sources, these are included in the further reading sections.

Make sure that you diligently study the material in the resource itself and the material that you are directed to in the further reading sections. You should aim to devote a minimum of 40 hours to your studies. Take your time and work at a speed that is comfortable for you.

EIDO Healthcare is committed to providing the highest standard of information to you so that you and your patients can be INFOrMED. The law surrounding consent to treatment is constantly being ruled on by the courts and the information contained in this resource is regularly updated to reflect the current legal decisions and principles.

The content of this version expires at the end of May 2005.

The course material is a summary of the subject matter covered and is not a substitute for detailed legal advice. The information contained in this course states the position as at 1st June 2004.

If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact EIDO Healthcare on 0115 878 1000.

EIDO Healthcare Ltd

June 2004