A basic guide to consent

Consent is a crucial protocol of which to be aware – as every member of the dental team is expected to have knowledge and apply that to practice. The (free dictionary, 2016) defines consent as ‘the voluntary agreement proposed by another. Consent is an act of reason; the person giving consent must be of sufficient metal capacity and be in possession of all the essential information in order to give valid consent’. The General Dental Council is unique, as it is the only healthcare organisation to have one set of standards for the whole team. Standard 3.1.1 states: ‘You must make sure you have valid consent before starting any treatment or investigation. This applies whether you are the first member of your team to see the patient or whether you are involved after other team members have already seen them. Do not assume that someone else has obtained consent.’ (GDC, 2013). This is particularly relevant to the extended duties dental nurse or those running nurse-led clinics. The key message of this piece is that consent is an ongoing process and it is the responsibility of the whole team.