11.   All patients gave written consent.

12.   Are there limitations on the classes of person who may give consent?

13.   Are there any forms of behaviour to which the law provides that consent cannot be given?

14.   Are there limitations on the classes of persons who can give consent?

15.   Persons who do not understand the nature of the act cannot give consent.

16.   Once the patient has been informed in broad terms of the nature of the intended procedure and gives consent, then that consent is real.

17.   Where a patient is unconscious and therefore incapable of giving a consent, the doctor will be entitled to give treatment on the basis of necessity.

18.   If a status test is used, then a particular age is fixed at which consent may be given.

19.   The court can then give consent to the proposed treatment or withholding of treatment, if it thinks this is in the best interests of the child.

20.   In extreme circumstances the customer or supplier may seek to use its strong position and extract personal benefits in return for giving its consent.