Three Types Of Consent In Health And Social Care

The professional value that I have chosen to reflect upon is consent, which can be defined as a patient’s right to decline or accept treatment (Dougherty and Lister 2015). There are three types of consent and these are voluntary, informed and capacity consent. I will discuss the difference between these consents later in this reflective account.

Using Driscoll (2007) reflective model, which consist of three simple questions: What, So What, and Now What? I will reflect on my experience of working in the surgical ward and particularly on my involvement with a male patient. In order to maintain confidentiality, I will refer to this patient as Erick as the British Medical Association (BMA, 2016) suggests that all identifiable patient information,

This legislation, among others, stresses the need for health professionals to involve the patient in their own treatments as well as promoting their right to give consent, or decline, any medical care.

According to Dimond (2010) consent, is a voluntary decision, which can be given, verbally, written or implied. The Professional Standards of Practice and Behaviour for Nurses and Midwives (NMC, 2015) suggest that health professionals need to ensure that consent is ascertained before carrying out any action. I have, therefore, demonstrated good practice in ascertaining Erick’s consent and by giving him sufficient time to reflect on the treatment I offered to him.

Obtaining consent, as suggested by Eyal (2012), also promotes patient’s trust in medical procedures that they are likely to receive as well as their likelihood to comply adequately with medical advice or participate in medical research. It is evident that obtaining a verbal consent from Erick was a testimony to his trust and willingness to comply with the medical advice, which I had given him such as keeping his wound dry and request painkillers if he were in