Autonomy and clinical practice. 3: Issues of patient consent.

In this, the last in a three-part series considering how the concepts of autonomy, privacy and informed consent are articulated in nursing and the related literature, the authors focus on the notion of consent. Definitions of consent are considered, as are the legal elements of valid consent. Obtaining a patient's consent to treatment has several important functions. This article looks at some of these functions, such as safeguarding patient autonomy and encouraging patient participation in health care. Finally, a number of the difficulties in obtaining an informed consent from patients are considered. Some empirical studies which consider patients' understanding of the information and consent process are also discussed. From a review of the literature it appears that the issue of informed consent is very much tied up with the perceived power struggle between doctors and nurses and doctors and their patients.