Consent in Healthcare: Your Rights as a Patient
Understanding consent in healthcare is essential for every patient. At Ferguson Street Osteopathy in Williamstown, we prioritise informed consent in every treatment session because your autonomy and comfort matter.
Whether you’ve had previous experiences of poor consent in healthcare or you’re simply wanting to understand your rights better, this guide will empower you to feel more in control during medical appointments.
What is Consent in Healthcare?
Consent in healthcare means you have the right to make informed decisions about what happens to your body during treatment. It’s not just a signature on a form – it’s an ongoing conversation between you and your healthcare practitioner.
We practice consent every day in normal life:
- “Do you want sugar in your tea?”
- “Can I come over a bit later?”
- “Please take your shoes off at the door.”
In healthcare settings, consent works the same way:
- Ask, don’t assume a person wants or needs something
- You have the right to say yes or no
- You can withdraw consent at any time (though you can’t retract consent for something that’s already occurred)
Power Dynamics in Healthcare Settings
Understanding power dynamics is crucial when discussing consent in healthcare. As a patient, you may feel at a disadvantage because:
- Practitioners are asked for help and hold knowledge you don’t have
- They make decisions about your body
- They give advice and prescriptions
- The setting itself can feel intimidating
Because of this inherent power imbalance, it’s even more important for healthcare practitioners to create space for you to ask questions, voice concerns, or say no during consultations.
At our Williamstown osteopathy clinic, we actively work to reduce power imbalances by explaining what we’re doing, checking in regularly, and respecting your boundaries.
Types of Consent in Healthcare
Implied Consent
Implied consent means that by presenting yourself in a healthcare setting, you’re consenting to activities relative to that space. For example:
- Arriving at a hospital unconscious – you can’t give verbal consent but will be treated
- Booking an osteopathy appointment and entering the treatment room – implies consent to have a consultation
However, implied consent alone is not enough for ethical healthcare practice.
Informed Consent in Healthcare
Informed consent is the gold standard. It means you’ve been given full information and agree to proceed. This can be verbal or written.
Informed consent in healthcare should include:
- What the practitioner is going to do
- What you may be asked to do (e.g., undressing, movement tests)
- Which areas of your body will be touched or examined
- Benefits of treatment
- Risks (if any) to treatment
- Risks if treatment is not proceeded with
- Alternative treatment options
- Time to ask questions
Being aware of risks and having time to ask questions is vital to fully consent to treatment. If you’re feeling unsure, you can and should ask for more information. If you still feel there’s not enough information to make an informed decision, you have the right to say no to any part – or all – of the consultation.
Ongoing Consent: It Doesn’t End After You Sign
One of the most important aspects of consent in healthcare is understanding that it’s ongoing and continual – not a one-time agreement.
Even if you have:
- Signed a consent form
- Said yes to proceed with treatment
- Agreed to a treatment plan
You still have the right to:
- Change your mind
- Ask to stop at any time
- Request more information
- Decline specific parts of treatment
Even in medical care, you are in charge of your body.
Consent in Healthcare at Ferguson Street Osteopathy
At our Williamstown osteopathy clinic, we practice consent throughout every appointment:
Before treatment:
- We explain what we’re going to assess and how
- We ask permission before touching any area
- We give you time to ask questions
- We discuss treatment options and alternatives
During treatment:
- We check in regularly about your comfort
- We explain what we’re doing as we go
- We adjust techniques based on your feedback
- We stop immediately if you ask
After treatment:
- We discuss your home care options (not demands)
- We respect your decisions about follow-up appointments
- We provide information without pressure
Our approach to consent in healthcare extends across all our services, from paediatric osteopathy to pregnancy care to chronic pain management.
How to Practice Good Consent as a Patient
Read Before You Sign
You’ve likely signed consent forms at medical clinics without fully reading them. Take your time. Don’t let anybody rush you. If you have concerns or questions, raise them with the practitioner before signing.
If there’s legal jargon you don’t understand, ask for it to be explained in plain language.
Know Your Personal Boundaries
Understanding what makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe helps your practitioner accommodate treatment to your needs. It’s OK to say:
- “I’m not comfortable undressing beyond this point”
- “Please don’t touch my neck without warning me first”
- “I need breaks during treatment”
- “I prefer not to discuss [specific topic]”
Ask Questions
Health professionals sometimes speak in medical jargon that sounds meaningless or scary, or they may brush over something that’s ‘normal’ for them without giving you the explanation you need.
Questions you can ask:
- “What exactly are you going to do?”
- “Why are you recommending this treatment?”
- “What are my other options?”
- “What happens if I don’t do this?”
- “Can you explain that in simpler terms?”
Being vocal about what you do and don’t understand gives you better grasp of your body and more power to make informed healthcare decisions.
Know Your Next Steps if Consent is Violated
If you feel you’ve been violated in terms of your body and consent in healthcare, you can:
- Speak directly to the practitioner – Sometimes miscommunication can be resolved with discussion
- Complain to the clinic – Clinics should have complaint processes
- Contact AHPRA – Australian Health Practitioners Regulatory Association handles serious complaints
- Seek support – Talk to trusted friends, family, or counselling services
Violations of consent in healthcare are serious and should be reported.
Consent is a Conversation
Remember that consent in healthcare is:
- Ongoing – It doesn’t end after the first treatment or signature
- Reversible – You can change your mind at any time
- Necessary – Every time, even with practitioners you’ve seen for years
Don’t let all this talk of consent scare you! If you’ve always felt at ease with your healthcare practitioners, that ‘at ease’ feeling is likely because you’re being listened to and respected—consent in healthcare is probably happening already, even if you haven’t heard the word spoken during consultations.
Nonetheless, if any of this has raised concerns for you, take it up with your healthcare providers or talk to an informed friend or family member.
Your Rights Matter
Understanding consent in healthcare empowers you to be an active participant in your treatment, not a passive recipient. At Ferguson Street Osteopathy, we’re committed to respectful, consent-based care for every patient.
Book an appointment with our Williamstown osteopaths who prioritise your autonomy and comfort, or call 9397 3263 if you have questions about what to expect during your visit.
About the author
Julie Hjorth is the Principal Osteopath at Ferguson Street Osteopathy in Williamstown, with over 15 years of experience. She holds a Master of Osteopathy and is an accredited Advanced Paediatric Osteopath through Osteopathy Australia, specialising in infants, pregnancy, postnatal care, and chronic health conditions.