Consent for any medical procedure (everything from being examined to surgery and so on) the patient (who has the capacity to consent) must have given their consent freely. This means without coercion – without anyone forcing or persuading you. Patients should be given the information they require in order to understand what they are being asked to consent to. A patient cannot give their informed consent if he / she has not been adequately informed and that includes telling or informing the patient in writing about the negatives of a test, procedure and so on.
A patient who has the capacity to give consent for a procedure can also refuse treatment. Even if one gives consent this does not prevent the patient changing his or her mind and refusing further treatment or surgery and so on.
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