PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mohsin I Choudry
AU  - Aishah Latif
AU  - Leslie Hamilton
AU  - Bertie Leigh
TI  - Documenting the process of patient decision making: a review of the development of the law on consent
AID  - 10.7861/futurehosp.3-2-109
DP  - 2016 Jun 01
TA  - Future Hospital Journal
PG  - 109--113
VI  - 3
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/3/2/109.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/3/2/109.full
SO  - Future Hosp J2016 Jun 01; 3
AB  - The doctor’s role involves helping patients to understand their condition, including the anticipated benefits and risks of proposed treatments or omissions to treat. In order to treat, doctors require consent from patients but the duty to advise is equally strong if conservative management is appropriate. The recent judgement in the case of Montgomery has set a precedent for patient autonomy. However, doctors are still required to judge what risks they should disclose in their reasonable assessment of that patient and their specific situation. The General Medical Council reflects a consensus that the empowered autonomous patient is more likely to be satisfied with their clinical outcome than the passive victim of medical paternalism. Doctors, regardless of specialty, must counsel their patients adequately, paying particular attention to identifying material risks that are likely to be significant to their case.