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Clinical Consent Capacity

Meaning

Clinical Consent Capacity is the clinical and ethical determination of a patient’s cognitive ability to make an autonomous, well-reasoned decision about their medical care, particularly for complex hormonal interventions. This capacity requires the patient to understand the relevant treatment information, appreciate the potential consequences of their choice, and communicate a consistent decision. It is a dynamic judgment made by the clinician, distinct from the legal concept of competency, which is determined by a court. Establishing this capacity is a prerequisite for ethical clinical practice.