Making informed choices (Informed consent)
In health care we use a term called ‘Informed consent’ to describe making an informed choice about your health care.
Informed consent is a process that ensures you understand the benefits, risks and alternatives before you agree to something like a medical treatment, test or procedure.
It’s about your right to make decisions about your own health and wellbeing.
Health professionals have a legal, ethical and professional responsibility to make sure consent is properly obtained. It also helps ensure care is focused on your needs and choices.
What is informed consent?
Informed consent is when a person voluntarily agrees to a healthcare treatment, procedure or other intervention with:
- accurate and relevant information about the health care and alternative options available, and
- adequate knowledge and understanding of the benefits and risks of the proposed health care relevant to that person.
You have the right to refuse treatment or withdraw consent before or during treatment.
Why is informed consent important?
Informed consent is a key safety and quality issue and must be validly obtained and appropriately timed.
When done well, informed consent helps people understand the risks, benefits, alternatives, potential consequences and costs of health care.
Informed consent is integral to the right to information in the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights, and recognised in Professional Codes of Conduct.
The National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards require all hospitals and day procedures services to have informed consent processes that comply with legislation, lawful requirements and best practice.
Information for consumers
We have information that can help you understand your healthcare rights and be involved in conversations and decisions with health professionals about your health care.
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Being involved in decisions about your care
You have a right to be involved in making decisions about their health care. We have information and resources to support you in getting involved in decisions about your care.
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Ask Share Know
Health information can be hard to understand, and making decisions about your health can be difficult. Ask Share Know is a strategy that will help you learn about tests, treatment or care.
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Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights
describes the rights that you or someone you care for can expect when receiving health care. These rights apply to all people in all places where health care is provided in Australia.
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Understanding health information (health literacy)
The term ‘health literacy’ describes a person’s ability to find, understand and use information to make informed decisions about their health.
Resources for health professionals
Our fact sheet for clinicians describes the key principles of informed consent and assessing legal capacity and provides information about how to obtain valid informed consent.
We have an online education module that supports clinicians develop and refine their skills in communicating effectively about the benefits and risks of treatment options with consumers.
A better way to care provides guidance for health professionals on how to safely and respectively gain informed consent from people with cognitive impairment or at risk of delirium.