Researchers investigated approaches to consent among 150 practising UK chiropractors. Of 55% who responded, 25% reported not informing patients of physical examination procedures prior to commencement. By contrast, only 6% did not fully explain proposed treatment, although over one-third did not advise patients of alternative available treatments. Nearly two-thirds of the practitioners reported that there were no specific procedures for which they always obtained written consent and 18% that there were no instances in which they documented when verbal consent had been obtained. Ninety-three percent said they always discussed minor risk with their patients but only 23% reported always discussing serious risk. When treatment carried a possible risk of a major side-effect only 14% of the sample obtained formal written consent. Documentation of patient understanding was omitted by 75% of practitioners in this sample.