What should you do to verify consent before delivering care?

What should you do to verify consent before delivering care?

• A. Assume consent if the client is present.
• B. Obtain consent from the client (and document if needed).
• C. Only collect consent if a family member is present.
• D. Consent is not required.

Answer: (B)

Respecting patient autonomy means you verify consent before starting care. You do this by directly obtaining consent from the client who has the capacity to decide, after clearly explaining what you plan to do, including its risks, benefits, and alternatives, and answering any questions. The client should actively agree, and that agreement should be documented according to policy so there’s a record that consent was obtained. If the client cannot consent due to age, cognitive ability, or an emergency situation, follow the appropriate policy for surrogate decision-making or emergency care. A family member’s presence or input may be part of the conversation, but it does not replace the patient’s own consent. Consent is required for care, and it should never be assumed.