If you are to receive a medical treatment or undergo a medical procedure, the doctor, nurse, or therapist should clarify what is wrong and should explain all the options in treatment and procedures and explain the risks and benefits to allow an informed choice. They should also give you an opportunity to discuss any concerns and you should feel free to ask any questions. Depending on the procedure, you may then be asked to sign a form saying you understand what will happen and agree that it may go ahead. If you decide for treatment not to go ahead, you should also be given an explanation of your options.

The doctor, nurse or therapist may also ask you if they can share information about you with other health care and social care professionals, or if you are happy for students to be in the room. You do not have to agree to this if you do not want to. Again, you may be asked to sign a form saying you agree to share information.

You may also want to ask for a relative or friend to be kept informed of how things are going.

Back to Health care services contents page