1. Consent to treatment is covered by the Constitution as well as by section 6 of the Act on the Status and Rights of Patients.
2. The patient has to be cared in mutual understanding with him/ her. If the patient refuses a certain treatment or measure, he/she has to be cared, as far as possible, in other medically acceptable way in mutual understanding with him/her.
3. In the case of minor treatment procedures, the fact that a person has sought treatment can be regarded as patient consent. In principle, however, the consent of patients must be clarified through mutual discussion. It is therefore important that patients are given sufficient information on their state of health, the extent and effects of the treatment, any possible risk factors, and alternative forms of treatment. Health care are obliged professionals to provide patients with sufficient information in an intelligible form before and during treatment. If the patient and health care staff do not share a common language, interpretation should be arranged if possible. An interpreter may also be necessary for discussions with patients who have a sensory defect or speech disability.
   In clarifying to the patient issues relating to treatment, health care staff must ensure that information concerning the patient is not divulged to outsiders. Information regarding treatment must not be given to patients against their will.
4. In cases where the life or health of a patient who is unconscious is in danger, necessary treatment has to be given even if it is not possible to assess the patient’s wishes. If patients have expressed their wishes concerning treatment in a living will, and there is no reason to believe that, for example, the document is out of date or patients have changed their mind, steps must be taken according to the expressed wishes concerning treatment. In any unclear cases, health care staff will discuss the matter with close relatives of the patient.If patients are unable to decide on their treatment because of mental disability or infirmity, assessment of their wishes must be sought from close relatives before making decisions about treatment. However, if the patient has earlier steadfastly and competently expressed his/ her will concerning treatment given to him/ her, he/ she must not be given a treatment that is against his/ her will.
5. Provisions on treatment given irrespective of the will of the patient are included in the Mental Health Act (1116/1990), the Act on Social Work with Intoxicant Abusers (41/1986), the Communicable Disease Act (583/1986) and in the Act on Special Care for the Mentally Handicapped (519/1977).

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