Withdrawing consent
Patients with capacity can also withdraw consent for continuing treatment.
If, during a procedure, a patient indicates that he/she wants you to stop, you should stop the procedure as soon as it is safe to do so and then explain the consequences of not proceeding further, without implying coercion.
It is important to let patients know that stopping a procedure will not compromise their care.
If, during a procedure, a patient indicates that he/she wants you to stop, you should stop the procedure as soon as it is safe to do so
The rights of patients who lack capacity should also be respected in this regard. If they indicate that they want a procedure to stop because they are in pain or discomfort, their wishes should be complied with, as above.
Scenario 7
Mr D has been admitted as a day case for colonoscopy for investigation of rectal bleeding. He finds the colonoscopy extremely uncomfortable and insists that the procedure be stopped. This happens just as the surgeon identifies a suspicious-looking lesion in the transverse colon.
The surgeon stops the procedure and then explains the situation to Mr D, who agrees to further sedation being administered so the colonoscopy can be continued and the lesion biopsied.