and thereafter gives voluntary consent. 3 The role of informed consent within the context of nursing care is also well established. 3, 4 The principle that a nursing care procedure cannot be undertaken without the consent of the patient is widely acknowledged. 5 -- 11 Indeed, the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Visiting advises that all care procedures should be undertaken within a "framework of informed consent". 12 It should be acknowledged, however, that there is little discussion of the application of the principles of informed consent prior to nursing care procedures in the nursing literature. Discussion is focused almost entirely on the nurse's role in facilitating consent prior to medical and research procedures. 4, 13 The lack of discussion of informed consent prior to nursing care procedures does not negate its importance. The purpose of informed consent is to protect patient autonomy. 1 It therefore follows that consent should be obtained, in an appropriate manner, prior to any procedure which might be unwanted by the patient, or which might threaten his or her autonomy. Clearly many nursing care procedures have the potential to do this. It has been frequently observed that even apparently benign procedures may be unwanted by the patient. 14, 15 Obtaining the patient's consent prior to those procedures should guard against such infringements. 4 It follows that if a patient refuses care, care cannot be given. To do so would be to infringe patient autonomy and to contravene the principles of consent.