Clinical risk management: principles of consent and patient information

Clinical Risk Management and its integral elements form part of the foundation of 'Clinical Governance'. An important principle within Clinical Risk Management is that of consent and patient information which, in a changing climate of complaint and litigation, means that it is essential that clinicians have a sound understanding of its importance. This paper provides a structured understanding of the background and practice of consent and patient information. With such knowledge clinicians can help patients achieve a better understanding of what they are undertaking, and so reduce the risk of complaint and litigation. This paper discusses the topics of: current indemnification, ethics, law, the information content required for consent, duration of consent, who should take consent, capacity to give consent, mental incapacity, and details of how to perform risk assessment. However, areas applicable to the Mental Health Act have been excluded.