The consent of the person being examined or treated must be sought in all cases.
If the patient, in a condition to express his wishes, refuses the proposed investigations or treatment, the doctor must respect this refusal after informing the patient of the consequences.
If the patient is incapable of expressing his wishes, the doctor may not intervene unless the trusted support person or, failing this, the family or a close relative has been informed, except in an emergency or where this is impossible.
The doctor’s obligations towards the patient when the latter is a minor or an adult under legal protection are defined in article R. 4127-42.