title: Consent.
abstract: Before a dental practitioner examines a patient he or she must obtain the patient's consent to do so, and before undertaking any form of complex or expensive treatment the patient's consent must be in writing. Failure to do this could leave the practitioner open to prosecution for assault, and liable for damages in a civil court.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Guys Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence