In order to take a patient’s blood or other bodily sample it is necessary to obtain the patient’s
consent.
It is the responsibility of the clinician to ensure the patient understands the reason for making
the request for an examination and the range of tests that may be involved. The reasons for
investigation should be explained clearly to the patient.
The initial consent is likely to involve a request to investigate what is wrong, rather than to
perform a specific set of analyses. Clinicians must also consider whether or not to document
the consent they have obtained.
General Medical Council guidance states that discussions with patients should be tailored
according to:
- their needs and wishes
- their level of knowledge about, and understanding of, their condition, prognosis and
the treatment options - the nature of their condition
- the complexity of the treatment
- the nature and level of risk associated with the investigation or treatment.
Patients can give consent orally or in writing, or they may imply consent by complying with
the proposed examination or treatment, for example, by rolling up their sleeve to have their
blood sample taken.