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Question 638
Clinical Management → Clinical Practice
Classification
Question
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Components of consent
Question Stem
A patient understands the proposed treatment and alternatives and has capacity, but cannot communicate a decision. Which component required for consent is absent ?
Options
A
Capacity
B
Information
C
Communication
D
Validation
E
Therapeutic privilege
Explanation
three main components relevant to consent: capacity, information and communication. It states that if an individual is unable to communicate a decision, that individual cannot give consent.
Option Validity
A) Capacity is the ability to give consent; the scenario states that the patient understands and can decide.
B) Information is adequate in the scenario because the procedure and alternatives have been understood.
D) Validation refers to the signed written consent process, not the ability to communicate the decision.
E) Therapeutic privilege is an exception used for an unconscious or confused patient without relatives, not a component of consent.
Further Reading
Saxena MRCOG-1 Basic Sciences — Principles of Clinical Practice, printed p. 3.