• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
• College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2014). Responsibilities under Consent Legislation. Professional Practice Guideline. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/PPG/UnderConsent.pdf
• Ontario Government. (1992). Substitute Decisions Act. Available at: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/92s30
• Ontario Government. (1996). Health Care Consent Act. Available at: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/96h02
• National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2016). National Competency Framework for the Profession of Respiratory Therapy. Part 1. National Standards for Entry-to-Practice. Available at: http://www.csrt.com/2016-national-competency-framework/

Capable refers to “mentally capable; a person is capable if they are able to understand the information that is relevant to making a decision about the treatment and are able to appreciate the reasonable foreseeable consequences of a decision or lack of decision.”[1]

Communicates refers to “give or exchange thoughts, feelings, information… by writing, speaking, etc.; to exchange thoughts, feelings, or information easily or effectively.”[2] It implies a two-way communication process between the speaker and recipient involving active listening and reception.

Incapable/incapacity refers to “a person who is diagnosed as being mentally ill, senile, or suffering from some other disability that prevents them from managing his own affairs…a guardian is appointed to handle the person’s property and personal affairs.”[3]

Informed consent means that the information relating to the treatment must be received and understood by the patient/client.[4]

Patients/clients refer to individuals and their families requiring care or services. This may also include his/her substitute decision-maker or guardian.[5]

Substitute decision-makers refer to “individuals who may give or withhold consent on behalf of an incapacitated patient/client (e.g., guardian, attorney for personal care, spouse, partner).”[6]