Consent Policy

Last updated: June 2025

1. Our approach to consent

At BGM Medical, we are committed to obtaining your valid, informed consent before providing any examination, investigation, or treatment. We follow the principles set out in GMC guidance (Decision Making and Consent, 2020), the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and relevant case law (including Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015] UKSC 11).

2. What is valid consent?

Valid consent must be:

• Voluntary: given freely, without pressure or undue influence
• Informed: you must have been given enough information to make a decision
• Given by a person with capacity: you must be able to understand, retain, and weigh up the information

3. What we will tell you before seeking consent

Before any procedure or treatment, we will explain:

• The diagnosis or reason for the proposed treatment
• What the treatment or procedure involves
• The likely benefits
• The material risks and side effects (including those that are rare but serious)
• Alternatives to the proposed treatment, including doing nothing
• What will happen if you decline

We will give you time to ask questions, and we will answer them honestly.

4. How consent is given

Consent may be given verbally, in writing, or by conduct (e.g. holding out your arm for a blood test). For procedures that carry significant risk, or that are irreversible, we will usually obtain written consent and keep a record.

Consent given via our website booking form (ticking the consent checkbox) covers only the storage and use of your data, not clinical consent. Clinical consent is obtained at the time of the consultation.

5. Withdrawal of consent

You have the right to withdraw consent at any time, including during a procedure (provided doing so would not put you at unacceptable risk). If you withdraw consent, we will stop and discuss your concerns with you. Withdrawing consent will never result in you receiving a lower standard of care from us.

6. Mental capacity

We assume that all adult patients have mental capacity to make decisions about their own care, unless there is evidence to the contrary. If we have concerns about a patient's capacity, we will follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 principles and, where appropriate, involve an independent mental capacity advocate (IMCA) or other relevant support.

7. Young people and children

We follow Gillick competence principles for patients under 16. Young people aged 16 to 17 are presumed to have capacity under the Mental Capacity Act. Parental consent may be required for some procedures for younger patients.

8. Neurodiversity and accessible communication

We are a neuroaffirmative practice. We recognise that some patients may need information presented differently, for example in simpler language, in writing rather than verbally, or with extra processing time. Please let us know your communication preferences when booking, and we will do our best to accommodate them.

9. Emergencies

In a life threatening emergency where you are unable to give consent, we will provide treatment in your best interests as permitted by law. We will document our decision making.

10. Questions and complaints

If you have questions about consent or feel that your consent was not properly obtained, please contact us at contact@bgm-medical.com. You also have the right to raise concerns with the General Medical Council at gmc-uk.org.