Patient Consent for Peace of Mind -Chloe Booth

Obtaining valid consent from patients prior to any treatment is fundamental to the proper provision of dental care. It is not only ethical, but also a legal requirement of all dental professionals around the world. Failure to obtain informed patient consent can leave a clinician vulnerable to criticism on a number of accounts, not least those of assault and/or negligence – which can lead to criminal charges, civil actions or disciplinary proceedings, therefore affecting the professional’s reputation, confidence and possibly even their ability to practise.

For consent to be valid it must be informed, competent and voluntary. The patient must be given all the relevant information about proposed treatments, as well as the opportunity to ask questions of their dental professional. Even with all of this, the patient retains the right to withdraw their consent at any time during treatment, so it is essential that accurate and thorough records be kept throughout the entire process.

This seems to be an area that many modern professionals find indistinct and somewhat worrisome. After all, if the patient can change their mind at any point during the process, is there really such a thing as ‘consent’? How do clinicians prove that they were given the information they needed to make an informed decision?

The key here is to document the patient’s permission to continue with treatment, at each stage of the treatment plan. Robust note-taking should record conversations between the professional and patient including any patient concerns or questions and how these were addressed, and then a signature should be obtained to provide evidence of the patient’s consent to begin. Providing written treatment plans are paramount to the process, and additional communication tools such as videos, animations and further written explanations can be an effective way of portraying the benefits and risks of treatments.

That said however, no practitioner wants to spend half their day filling out the paperwork to evidence their patients’ consents. So how can it be documented effectively yet conveniently?

During the recent BDTA Dental Showcase, the developers of the SafeSeen Touch offered a solution. Discussing delegates’ concerns and deliberating over the various rules and regulations in this area of the profession, the team demonstrated how the tablet could help.

Designed to enable patients to read through their treatment plan and update their medication list or personal details, the SafeSeen Touch also enables patients to provide an e-signature for effective and valid consent. In addition, the compact and easy-to-use device contains practice checklists, sign off protocols, training and update requirements, helping to determine the practice’s compliance in all areas of CQC.

So if patient consent is an element that worries you at any time, know that there are ways of avoiding potential problems. Particularly in light of the recent rise in patient complaints made to the GDC, it has never been so important to protect yourself from potential negligence litigation. Ensure valid consent from all your patients, and enjoy the peace of mind it brings.

For more information, please visit www.safeseentouch.co.uk, call 0845 576 2833 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.