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GA Consent for Children — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateBehavioural Sciences & EthicsGA Consent for ChildrenORE Part 1

A 5-year-old child presents with extensive caries requiring treatment under general anaesthesia. According to current UK guidance, what consent requirements apply?

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Correct answer: B — Written consent from a person with parental responsibility is required, and the consent documentation should detail the planned procedures

For dental treatment under general anaesthesia in children, the GDC Standard explicitly requires **written consent** to be obtained. At 5 years old, the child cannot demonstrate Gillick competence for complex procedures under GA; accordingly, consent must be provided by someone with **parental responsibility** (legally defined in English/Welsh law as typically the birth mother, fathers with PR status, or court-appointed guardians). SDCEP guidance confirms that teachers and other school-based carers cannot provide consent. Verbal consent is insufficient for GA; written documentation is mandatory. No dental team member may proceed without documented written consent from a person with valid parental responsibility. The description of procedures in the consent discussion supports informed decision-making and is standard practice.

Reference: General Dental Council Standards for the Dental Team; Faculty Dental Journal 2023 'Consent for the paediatric patient'; SDCEP Practice Support Manual, Children – Consent section, https://www.psm.sdcep.org.uk/topics/communication/obtaining-consent/children/