Medical Treatment: Decisions and the Law

1. Consent – General

Co-authored by James Berry and Louisa Brown.

Contents

  • A Framework 1.1
  • Introduction 1.1
  • Proposal to treat 1.3
  • Formulation of proposal 1.3
  • Risks of treatment 1.4
  • Considering alternative forms of treatment 1.5
  • Compelling a doctor to treat 1.6
  • Irrational decisions by care providers to refuse treatment 1.7
  • Resources 1.8
  • Treatment demanded by the patient 1.9
  • Communication of the proposal 1.10
  • Consent – state of mind 1.13
  • Intention  1.13
  • Comprehension 1.14
  • Communication of consent 1.15
  • Written consent  1.16
  • Oral consent  1.17
  • Conduct  1.18
  • B Information about risks  1.19
  • No doctrine of informed consent in relation to trespass to the person 1.19
  • Duty of care – common law position 1.20
  • The test of materiality 1.21
  • Duty to respond to specific needs of patient 1.22
  • Application of Montgomery 1.23
  • Article 8  1.24
  • Delegation  1.25
  • Duty to answer questions  1.26
  • Information about alternative forms of treatment  1.27
  • Known comparative outcomes 1.28
  • C Vitiating factors 1.30
  • Fraud  1.31
  • Duress and undue influence 1.32
  • Capacity 1.33
  • D Scope of authority  1.34
  • E Duration of authority  1.35
  • F Withdrawal of authority 1.37
  • G Conclusion 1.38
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