Final answer:
In the Health Care Consent Act (HCCA), consent must be given by a competent person, usually the patient themselves or their legal guardian.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the Health Care Consent Act (HCCA), consent must be given by a competent person.
The principle of autonomy, which is the right for patients to make decisions about their own health care, plays a significant role in the context of consent. In clinical settings, informed consent is required before a patient can undergo treatment, and this consent must be given by a competent person.
For example, parents can provide consent on behalf of their children, as children are not considered competent to provide consent for themselves.