Consent and Capacity

Consent is the process by which a patient with capacity authorises their own assessment or treatment, after a dialogue about the options.

For the sport and exercise medicine (SEM) doctor it arises constantly, from a routine examination to an injection offered at half-time, and it depends on capacity, the ability to make that particular decision at that time. This page covers what makes consent valid, how capacity is assessed, and how both apply in sport. The event setting is covered in Duty of Care, Consent and Records.