Access to special care dentistry, part 3. Consent and capacity.
This article considers what is meant by informed consent and the implications of the Mental Capacity Act in obtaining consent from vulnerable adults. It explores a number of conditions which impact on this task, namely dyslexia, literacy problems and learning disability. The focus on encouraging and facilitating autonomy and the use of the appropriate level of language in the consent giving process ensures that consent is valid. The use of appropriate methods to facilitate communication with individuals in order to be able to assess capacity and ensure that any treatment options that are chosen on their behalf are in their best interests are outlined. The use of physical intervention in special care dentistry in order to provide dental care safely for both the patient and the dental team is also considered.
Dougall
A
A
Division One/Special Care Dentistry, Dublin Dental School and Hospital, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Fiske
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill / Q000379:methods*; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000379:methods*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000145:classification; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013218:State Dentistry; D020458:Third-Party Consent; D006113:United Kingdom