Policy Statement 5.15 - Consent to Treatment

Position Summary

In seeking consent, dentists should comply with the Dental Board of Australia’s Code of Conduct and be guided by the ADA Guidelines for Consent for Care in Dentistry.

1. Background

1.1. The principle that good communication lies at the heart of good dental practice has long been recognised as it provides patients with information that enables them to make informed decisions about their dental care.

1.2. The Board has created a Code of Conduct, which has identified requirements for the obtaining of patient consent to treatment.

1.3. The common law has established the requirements for valid consent.

Definitions

1.4. BOARD is the Dental Board of Australia

1.5. PATIENT is a person receiving health care or any substitute authorised decision maker for those who do not have the capacity to make their own decisions.

1.6. INVASIVE PROCEDURES are those where entry to the tissue, body cavities or organs of a patient occurs, or where surgical repair of traumatic injury to a patient is undertaken.

1.7. VALID CONSENT to treatment means consent to treatment which is voluntarily given by a competent person based on full disclosure and understanding of information and includes authorisation for a specific treatment plan by a specific health care provider.

2. Position

2.1. Dentists in seeking consent, should comply with the Board’s Code of Conduct and be guided by the ADA Guidelines for Consent for Care in Dentistry.