Giving consent for chemotherapy treatment

No medical treatment can be given without your consent. Before you are asked to sign the form, you should have been given full information about: 

• what the treatment aims to achieve
• the type and extent of the treatment you are advised to have
• the advantages and disadvantages
• any other treatments that may be available
• any significant risks or side effects (both short and long term).

If you don’t understand what you have been told, let the staff know as soon as possible so that they can explain again.

Some cancer treatments are complex, so it’s not unusual for people to need things explained more than once.

It’s a good idea to have a relative or friend with you when the treatment is explained, to help you remember the discussion more fully. You may also find it useful to write down a list of questions before you go to your appointment.

Patients often feel that hospital staff are too busy to answer their questions, but it’s important for you to be aware of how the treatment is likely to affect you. The staff should be willing to make time for you to ask questions.

You can always ask for more time, if you feel that you can’t make a decision when the treatment is first explained to you.

You can also choose not to have the treatment. The staff can explain what may happen if you don’t have it. It’s important to tell a doctor, or the nurse in charge, so that they can record your decision in your medical notes.

You don’t have to give a reason for not wanting to have treatment, but it can help to let the staff know your concerns so that they can give you the best advice.