An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

3.7.1 ConsentWithin the ethical approval process, a medical research model of consent was applied. TheDepartment of Health (2003) provides guidance and a working definition of consent formedical treatment thus: “Consent is the voluntary and continuing permission of the patientto receive a particular treatment based on an adequate knowledge of the purpose, natureand likely risks of treatment including the likelihood of the success and any alternatives toit. Permission under any unfair or any other pressure is not consent”. There were thusissues both of whether the subjects gave informed consent to the research, and whether bycarrying out the research there was the possibility that the researcher might be condoningforms of treatment to which the persons treated had not given adequately informedconsent.In broad terms consent can be written, expressed or implied. As spiritual healing is givenin some sense „by‟ the healer and received by the „healed‟ this can be regarded as atreatment although the receiver does not have to give their consent at the time as in distantspiritual healing, continuous prayer and prayer by the church in the absence of the person.UK law recognizes the absolute right of the person not be treated against his or her willand not to be treated in the complete absence of consent. Informed consent has not beenfully developed as a doctrine by the UK judges who have developed the law concerningconsent. For the purpose of the ethical committee the research proposal was treated in thesame way that medical research and medical treatment is treated, regarding the purpose ofconsent thus: „to enlist the patient‟s faith and confidence in the efficacy of treatment‟ Theresearch did not actually engage in treatment although the process of the treatment(services and prayer) was being observed by the researcher.83