Informed consent - more than a signature? Improving the consent process in practice

Recently updated guidance on communication and consent from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) suggests that consent should be a process, held in advance of the day of surgery if possible, obtained by an appropriate member of staff, and should involve the discussion of reasonable treatment options. Using an elective neutering scenario, this article discusses what ‘good practice’ in informed consent looks like and makes recommendations for improving consent protocols in practice. These recommendations incorporate time allocation and timing of consent discussions, who should obtain consent, the content of the discussion, and what happens on the day of surgery.