title: Determining capacity to consent to treatment.
abstract: The word "consent" is used frequently in healthcare. Patients can either give or refuse consent. Consent is obtained, and consent forms are signed. Consent may be implied or explicit, and patients either have or do not have the capacity to give their consent to treatment. Consent is clearly an important issue in contemporary healthcare and one nurses need to be familiar with. This article, the first in a two-part series, explores individuals' right to choose, the legal meaning of the word "consent" and the importance of gaining consent before treatment. The second article will discuss capacity to consent. what makes consent valid and individuals'os
authors.affiliation: University of Worcester.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006113:United Kingdom