CNO Consent and Capacity in Nursing Practice

Question 1

Under Ontario's Health Care Consent Act, who is ultimately responsible for obtaining informed consent for a proposed treatment?

Accepted Answer

The regulated health professional proposing the treatment

Answer

Under the HCCA, the health professional proposing a treatment bears responsibility for obtaining informed consent before proceeding.

Question 2

Which of the following elements is NOT required for consent to be considered informed under Ontario's Health Care Consent Act?

Accepted Answer

The cost of the treatment

Answer

Informed consent requires disclosure of the nature, expected benefits, material risks, side effects, and alternatives — cost is not a legislated requirement.

Question 3

Under the Health Care Consent Act, how is capacity to consent assessed for a client with dementia who requires multiple procedures?

Accepted Answer

Specifically for each treatment decision being made

Answer

Capacity is decision-specific under the HCCA; a person may be capable of consenting to some treatments but incapable of consenting to others.

Question 4

According to the Health Care Consent Act, a person is presumed to be capable of making treatment decisions unless:

Accepted Answer

There are reasonable grounds to believe otherwise

Answer

The HCCA establishes a presumption of capacity that can only be set aside when there are reasonable grounds to believe the person lacks capacity for the specific decision.

Question 5

A capable client refuses a treatment the nurse believes is in the client's best interest. What is the nurse's most appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

Respect the refusal, document it, and report to the team

Answer

A capable client has the legal and ethical right to refuse any treatment, and the nurse must respect and document this decision even when it may result in harm.

CNO - College of Nurses of Ontario Practice Test

CNO - College of Nurses of Ontario Practice Test

CNO Consent and Capacity in Nursing Practice