Enlightened consent means the health care professional must tell you
certain things so you can make an informed decision about your care.

You must know:

• your medical problem;
• what will happen if you do not receive treatment;
• what type of care you will receive;
• any major risks involved;
• any serious risks, even if they do not happen very often;
• any side-effects of treatment;
• other types of treatment available.

2.6 What if I cannot consent to care?

The rule of free and enlightened consent only applies if you are
capable of consenting. Someone else must consent to care for you if:

• you cannot say what you want; or
• you cannot understand what will happen because
  of your decision.

This is called substitute consent.