Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry
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Dental professionals are increasingly aware of their ethical responsibility to permit patients to participate in treatment decisions through the informed consent process. At the same time, growing numbers of geriatric patients present special challenges that can jeopardize the use of informed consent. ⋯ This article establishes the relationship between the ethical principle of autonomy and informed consent while examining factors that must be present in order for a valid informed consent to be obtained. Additionally, the article addresses informed consent issues regarding competent patients, geriatric patients with fluctuating or uncertain competency, and patients who are clearly incompetent.