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Obtaining consent from special care patients

BDJ In Practice volume 32, page 31 (2019)Cite this article

The Faculty of Dental Surgery defines Special Care Dentistry as the provision of preventive treatment and oral care services to adolescents and adults who are unable to accept routine dental care because of some physical, intellectual, medical, environmental, sensory, mental, or social impairment.1 The World Health Organisation definition of a special care patient differs, referring to those with a disability or activity restriction that directly or indirectly affects their oral health within the personal and environmental context of the individual2, with no reference to the acceptance of routine dental care. In fact, many patients will attend general dental practice and potentially be capable of accepting routine dental care despite having a disability or impairment so it is highly likely that all clinicians, not just specialists, will treat special care patients.

The consent required from special care patients is no different to any other patient in that it must be freely given by a patient who is competent to do so. Competence to consent is also referred to as having the capacity to consent. All adult patients must be presumed to have capacity until proven otherwise, in the opinion of the treating clinician.

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References

  1. Royal College of Surgeons. Curriculum for Special Care Dentistry. Available online at: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/-/media/files/rcs/fds/publications/curricula/scdcurriculumfebruary2010.pdf (Accessed September 2019).

  2. World Health Organisation. International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Available online at: https://www.who.int/classifications/icf/en/ (Accessed September 2019).

  3. Mental Capacity Act 2005.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dento-legal Advisor, British Dental Association, 64 Wimpole Street, W1G 8YS, London, UK

    Lynn Stephens

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  1. Lynn Stephens
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Correspondence to Lynn Stephens.

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Stephens, L. Obtaining consent from special care patients. BDJ In Pract 32, 31 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41404-019-0178-1

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