This guidance provides a framework to help doctors to make decisions with their patient about their treatment and care. By following it, it will help doctors make sure they have informed consent from their patients. And that they involve families and others when it’s appropriate. It has advice on: what to tell a patient when talking about risks; what to do if a patient doesn’t want to hear information that may be relevant; when to obtain written consent; what needs to be recorded. The guidance will also help doctors when their patients lack capacity (Part 3). It includes a list of things they should consider and has advice on dealing with disagreements.

This interactive tool will help health professionals decide what to do when in doubt about their patient’s capacity to make decisions about their care. The advice is based on the principles in BMA guidance ‘Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together’ and ‘Treatment and care towards the end of life: good practice in decision-making’.

This guidance provides you the key legal and ethical considerations that need to be taken into account when seeking consent for treatment or research, and signposts to other sources of support and information. Topics covered include: key questions about consent and refusal; capacity to consent; sharing information with patients; who is responsible for seeking consent; refusal of consent; advance care planning; consent for emergency treatment; compulsory treatment under mental health legislation; consent for research; consent for teaching purposes.

This toolkit provides practical guidance to assist doctors in making decisions in the best interests of adults who lack capacity in England and Wales. It sets out an overview of the law; outlines a clear decision-making process to follow; and provides detailed practical advice as to who doctors should consult and the information they need in reaching a decision.

This toolkit acts as a prompt to doctors when they are providing care and treatment for people who lack, or who may lack, the mental capacity to make decisions on their own behalf.