Consent and caesarean section

Clinical Governance has ensured that risk management is an integral part of medical practice. All doctors are closely involved in applying legal principles in their daily practice, with the commonest and most important being consent. Consent, patient choice and co-operation are important aspects of health care in relation to decision-making. A patient can either assent to treatment or refuse it, provided he/she is competent. Consent requires the relevant mental capacity, which means that the patient is able to receive information and retain it, believe in it, weigh it up and communicate the decision. This decision must be given freely, without undue duress or coercion from either third parties or health professionals. With the help of two case scenarios, this article illustrates issues that could arise in connection with consent, involving competent pregnant women.