Patient choice: the shape of consent post-Montgomery

Area of Science:

• Medical Law
• Dental Ethics
• Patient Rights

Background:

• The legal framework for patient consent in the UK has been significantly impacted by the Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board ruling.
• This ruling emphasized the importance of shared decision-making and the patient's right to be informed about material risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a historical overview of patient consent laws.
• To update on the current legal landscape of consent in UK dentistry.
• To introduce a novel 'consent workflow' to assist dental professionals in obtaining valid informed consent.

Main Methods:

• Historical legal review of patient consent.
• Analysis of current UK legal statutes and case law pertaining to medical consent.
• Development of a practical, adaptable 'consent workflow' for clinical use.

Main Results:

• The study clarifies the post-Montgomery legal requirements for informed consent in dental practice.
• A structured workflow is presented to guide healthcare professionals through the consent process.
• The workflow aims to enhance the confidence of both practitioners and patients.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to informed consent principles is crucial for ethical and legal dental practice.
• The proposed consent workflow offers a practical tool for dentists to navigate complex consent requirements.
• Implementing this framework can improve the quality of the patient-professional relationship and shared decision-making.