As an aesthetic practitioner, one of the most important things you must remember – whether operating your own business or working for another – is that it is crucial to gain legal consent before proceeding with any injectable treatment.
From protecting your own business and reputation, to giving the client full control and knowledge of the treatment they are receiving, gaining legal consent can be as easy as handing over a permissions form for each client sign. Simple or not, though, this paperwork can make or break your business.
Why is legal consent so important?
There are two main areas to consider when assessing the importance of legal consent.
The first looks at the client, and the importance of them understanding exactly what their injectable treatment is designed to do and achieve. When you ask them to sign a legal consent document, they are acknowledging any potential risks or side effects, stating that they understand what the treatment includes, and agreeing that they have been made aware of the likely results.
For you as a business, legal consent is what provides you with proof of practice. It arms you with written proof that you have undergone a consultation with the client, so that in the case of unwanted results or side effects, it cannot be argued that you completed a treatment without consulting the client. Furthermore, this stage of gaining consent can also allow you to formally ask for and gain written proof that the client is happy with the products used in the treatment – including any ingredients.
This is integral for protecting your business reputation, with all legal consent needing to be:
Given voluntarily
Fully informed in terms of information and T&Cs
Up to date with the latest treatment practices and details.
How can you gain legal consent?
So, what does it take to gain legal consent and what does your consent process need to include?
A legal consent form is the easiest way to get physical proof of your client’s consent – with the form best supported with a verbal outline of what it includes and what the client is agreeing to when they sign it. The more transparent you are prior to treatment, the safer they will feel and the lower the chance that anything will go wrong – with our recommendation always being to conduct a full consultation with every client prior to treatment. This enables them to raise any questions or concerns they have and allows you to understand their motivation and ideal results – so that you can manage their expectations and ensure that they have selected the right treatment.
Your legal consent form needs to include the following:
Name of your business or facility
Your name or the name of the practitioner carrying out the treatment
Name of the client
A description of the procedure and/or treatment
An explanation of the results that are likely and expected
An outline of any potential side effects or risks as a result of treatment
Fees and costs associated with the treatment, including any payment plans available
Liability for the practice or business
Printed name and signature of your client
The date of consultation and form signing
The date of the treatment.
All of these details will give you a comprehensive overview of what has been discussed and will allow you to prove that a client knew about and agreed to each stage of the treatment prior to the treatment taking place.