The statement is trying to say that if a patient has given permission for a treatment and if the treatment does not go according to the plan, then it is not the doctor’s fault.

There is a limit to how true this statement is. If the treatment has gone wrong due to the carelessness of a doctor, then it must be their responsibility. If a treatment was going well and an unexpected event caused the treatment to go wrong, then the doctor should not be blamed for this. A treatment always involves a team of medical staff, ranging from doctors to nurses.

The principle of consent is an important part of medical ethics. It must be voluntary, informed and the patient must be capable of giving the consent. The consent can be given either verbally or in writing.

A meaningful consent is one in which the clinician provides all the details of the treatment. This includes all the procedures, length of procedures, side effects, possible complications and how their life would be after the treatment. This way, the patient can truly decide whether to accept the treatment or not. This respects their autonomy and is one of the benefits of patient consent.
The patient must be in the right state of mind and must be fully informed before a treatment can be given. Only the patient can give the consent and this consent must not be given due to pressure from the medical staff, friends or family. In some cases, parents may need to give consent for a child up to the age of 16.
A consent is not meaningful when it is given by a patient due to pressure placed on them by medical staff, family or friends.

Clinical decisions should made after the patient and their family have been fully consulted. The junior doctors must also consult a senior doctor. This will ensure whether the treatment being given to the patient is ideal or not. Once all the possible treatments have been discussed and the patient has given consent, the treatment can be started.

Ultimately, if patients have been fully informed about the treatment, complications, side effects and procedures, then it is their wish if they want to continue on with the treatment.