The more complex an intervention, the more discussion and dialogue is needed and it is likely that there will be a requirement for the patient, or person with parental responsibility in the case of a child, for them will need to sign a consent form. The patient should only be asked to sign this once a discussion has taken place and you and the patient are satisfied that they have all the information they need and understand it.

Many healthcare decisions, however, won’t require such formalities and you can rely on a patient’s verbal consent as long as you are satisfied they’ve had the opportunity to consider all the relevant information they need, which is summarised in paragraph 10 of the guidance. Find out more about consent and why it’s important.

Does the patient have capacity to make a decision?

Not all patients are able to make decisions for themselves and it is important to remember that mental capacity to make decisions may change over time and may also depend on the nature of the decision the patient needs to make. While a patient may be able to consent to, for example, having their blood taken, they may not be able to make more complex decisions about their health, such as having a major surgical procedure. Paragraphs 76 to 93 provide guidance for those times when your patient may lack capacity to make decisions. You can find out more about who can consent in this article by Dr Sally Old.

Delegation and support from the wider team – know your limits

The guidance acknowledges that uncertainty may exist when answering patients' questions and you should make clear the limits of your knowledge or if you are unable to answer a question with certainty (paragraphs 25 and 26).

The GMC's updated guidance on consent – what you should know

Updated GMC consent guidance ad 1

The GMC's updated guidance on consent – what you should know